Target Hardening

Definition

Target hardening refers to the various strategies and measures implemented to make potential targets of crime more difficult to access or attack. This approach is often employed to reduce opportunities for crime by enhancing physical security features and increasing the perceived risk of detection for offenders. By making it harder for criminals to succeed, target hardening can deter property crimes such as burglary, theft, and vandalism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Target hardening can include physical alterations like better locks, security cameras, and lighting to deter potential criminals.
2. The implementation of target hardening measures has been shown to significantly lower the rates of property crimes in areas where they are adopted.
3. Community involvement in target hardening can amplify its effectiveness, as residents who are aware of their surroundings are more likely to report suspicious activities.
4. Certain crime patterns indicate that as target hardening increases in one area, criminals may shift their focus to less protected locations nearby.
5. Target hardening is often part of a broader crime prevention strategy that includes community policing and education about safety practices.

Review Questions

• How does target hardening specifically contribute to reducing property crime rates?
  • Target hardening contributes to reducing property crime rates by making it more challenging for criminals to successfully carry out their activities. By enhancing physical security measures such as stronger locks, security cameras, and proper lighting, potential offenders perceive a higher risk of being caught. This increased effort required to commit crimes can deter many would-be offenders from attempting them in the first place.
• Discuss how target hardening can be integrated into community policing strategies.
  • Integrating target hardening into community policing strategies involves collaboration between law enforcement and community members to identify vulnerable properties and enhance their security. Police can provide guidance on effective target hardening measures while engaging residents in awareness programs about crime prevention. This partnership not only empowers the community but also helps build trust between law enforcement and citizens, leading to a more proactive approach to crime reduction.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of widespread target hardening on crime displacement and overall community safety.
  • Widespread target hardening can lead to significant long-term effects on crime displacement and community safety. While enhanced security measures may reduce crime in targeted areas, they can inadvertently push criminals towards less protected neighborhoods, leading to an increase in offenses elsewhere. However, if communities collectively adopt target hardening strategies, it can create a broader culture of safety that deters criminal activity across larger regions. Evaluating this dynamic is crucial for understanding how effective crime prevention strategies can maintain safety without simply relocating criminal behavior.

Related terms

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED): A strategy that focuses on modifying the physical environment to reduce crime opportunities, emphasizing natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, and access control.

Security Systems: Technological devices and procedures designed to protect property from unauthorized access or criminal activity, including alarms, cameras, and locks.

Situational Crime Prevention: An approach aimed at reducing specific crimes by increasing the effort and risks associated with committing those crimes while decreasing the rewards.