This paper presents the fourth sub-project of CPTED for schools in 2010. The purpose of this paper is to examine school safety by CPTED and to show an example of school guidelines used in Florida, USA. The consultation was completed by Richard Schneider, a professor at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at University of Florida. The consultation report provides a snapshot uation of physical and management of security conditions related to Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) and situational crime prevention principles based on site surveys of nine Korean primary, middle and high schools in Seoul and Kyonggido completed in May 2010. The nine schools were selected based on the crime rate in Seoul and Kyonggido. The crime rate was divided into three levels: high, moderate, low. To reflect the various environments of schools, school records and characteristics of schools were considered in the sampling stage. The research was completed by observation at sites and through interviews of students, teachers, and school staff. In addition to the formal visits, informal visits during the night were done to reveal the use of school facilities after school hours.
The results provide extensive ation on security challenges and opportunities at the schools and offer 30 recommendations relating to improvements to security system planning and more specifically for sites, buildings, interior space, system equipment and spaces. The report focuses on the relationship between design, management and guardianship in achieving a positive change to security.
The research study reveals that the sampled schools need to change from being generally uncoordinated, isolated, complacent and reactive, with respect to security to being more comprehensive and coordinated, preventive and proactive in nature. Essentially, the main suggestion or recommendation emphasizes the importance of changing the approach to security, advanced site planning, creating a regular checking policy of the security system, a strict regulation for school safety, and an effective communication system on campus. As a part of the comprehensive security planning process, a periodic (annual) survey is recommended for students and teachers. In addition, empirical research analyzing the correlation between the location and type of environmental features on school grounds and actual school crime, misbehavior and disorder is recommended to be undertaken to predict problems and suggest the mitigation strategies for the situation in schools in Korea.
The subsequent chapter introduces the CPTED guideline that was adapted in Florida: "Florida Safer School Design Guidelines: Strategies to Enhance Security and Reduce Vandalism." The guideline shows a check list of specific places in schools in terms of site design, building planning, interior space, system and maintenance following the CPTED principles such as natural access control, natural surveillance, territorial integrity and management. The Florida guidelines show that basic CPTED principles can be applied to specific locations in schools. Due to the cultural differences and environments of schools, the application of these guidelines would be required to be amended for Korean culture and environment. However, there is no uncertainty that the main idea and suggestion to enhance school safety using CPTED principles would make it possible to produce the various constructive strategies in Korea.