Outcome 5: Communities are free of crime and violence.



Outcome 5: Communities are free of crime and violence. Communities near transit that currently suffer from higher rates of crime and violence become safer places to live, work, and move over time. This is done through a combination of public programs focused on crime prevention, and a built environment that is designed to reduce rates of crime by increasing visibility of activities. Transit riders, pedestrians and bicyclists feel safe from crime as they move to and from stations, and take transit. Why Is This Outcome Important? Fast FactsThe perception of risk of crime and violence is a deterrent to transit use. Particular populations such as the elderly are less likely to take transit if they perceive it to be unsafe.1Gang-related crime and violence can deter the ability of residents – particularly younger residents – to safely walk to the nearest transit stop or even take transit through certain territories. But the nuance of how and why crime and violence takes place is complex and best understood at the community scale. Some communities have included programs to reduce street violence to increase transportation choices for youth. The Minneapolis Park Board adopted a “Youth Are Here Bus” program to safely transport north Minneapolis children to city programs,2 and Safe Routes to School in San Diego has implemented a “Safe Passages” program.3Code enforcement in the 1990s was key to cleaning up Hollywood’s crime issue and bringing about the Systematic Code Enforcement Program (SCEP).4 The physical design and types of uses in communities can have an effect on increasing or decreasing rates of crime. Specific uses found to generate more crime than others include liquor stores, bars, taverns and businesses that primarily involve cash transactions (pawnshops, check cashing, ATMs). Vacant lots and low visibility areas also trigger higher rates of crime. A study along the Green Line in Los Angeles County reinforced these national findings, and also found that crime rates were higher in areas with alleys and mid-block passages, and near stations with lower visibility.54572000123190Income (lower map) played a stronger role in the location of crime than population density (upper map). Excerpt from “Protecting Against Transit Crime” – footnote iv.Income (lower map) played a stronger role in the location of crime than population density (upper map). Excerpt from “Protecting Against Transit Crime” – footnote iv.Three Sample Activities to Achieve this Outcome:Engage with local community members to understand crime trends and identify key areas or sources of crime that can be mitigated. Deploy crime prevention through community design guidelines in station areas, and educate planners, law enforcement, code enforcement, and elected officials on their roles to achieve success. Integrate crime prevention and safe passages programs into Safe Routes to School and other programs targeting youth participation.(Reference to South Los Angeles Place Based Initiative in notes)Where Are We Today? Atlas MapsMap D5-1 Hospital Visits from Non-Fatal Assaults compares the frequent transit network to areas with high rates of hospital visits due to violent crime, between 2006 and 2010. The northeast San Fernando Valley, South Los Angeles, and South Bay Cities have higher rates of visits than other areas. This data is report for the zip code and therefore does not offer a deep picture of the rates of crime and violence within neighborhoods. Maps to understand crime and violence rates are best completed at the community scale with more detailed data and information. Potential maps to support this outcome include the presence of liquor stores and check cashing facilities, presence of vacant lots, location of alleyways, and other information that is more readily accessible at the neighborhood scale. Sources and References1 Hess, Daniel Baldwin, “Access to Public Transit and Its Influence on Ridership for Older Adults in Two U.S. Cities,” Journal of Transport and Land Use 2 (1) [Winter 2009] pp. 3-27. 2 A video for the Youth Are Here Bus anthem: 3 “Addressing Personal Safety in Getting to School in Southeastern San Diego,” March 21, 2011. 4 Harvard Kennedy School Innovations in American Government Awards Liggett, Robin, Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Hiroyuki Iseki, “Protecting Against Transit Crime: The Importance of the Built Environment,” California Policy Options. UCLA School of Public Affairs, January 2004. ResourcesPrevention Institute, Addressing the Intersection project: Prevention Institute, UNITY fact sheets on the link between violence and health: The California Endowment, “Building Healthy Communities Resource Guide: Outcome Five: Children and their Families are Safe from Violence in their Homes and Neighborhoods,” December 2009. Advancement Project: A Call to Action: Los Angeles’s Quest to Achieve Community Safety: ................
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