Day 2: Presentation Abstracts

Saturday, October 3, 2026

8:30 am – 9:00 am

CPTED for Kids: Storytelling as a Pedagogical Tool for Early Violence Prevention

Carlos Alfredo Gutiérrez Vera; Architect and Urban Planner | ICA Director | Ecuador

Carlos A. Gutiérrez V. is an architect and urban planner from the University of Chile (1985). Since the early 2000s, he has specialized in urban and school violence prevention using the CPTED methodology (ISO 22341), becoming one of the pioneers of its implementation in Latin America. He has designed and implemented programs, manuals, and training initiatives on violence prevention and public space recovery for international organizations such as the World Bank, KfW German Financial Cooperation, and USAID. He has also worked with government institutions in Chile, Ecuador, and Honduras. Carlos has extensive experience training communities, municipal teams, and police agencies across Latin America. He currently serves as an elected director of the International CPTED Association (ICA). He is the chair of the ICA CPTED in School Committee.

Email Carlos: carlos.gutierrez@cpted.net

Dr Mercedes Escudero; CPTED Expert and Violence Prevention Specialist | ICA Director | Mexico

Mercedes Escudero is an internationally recognized expert in the development of Territories of Peace, specializing in security solutions with a strong social focus and the prevention of violence and crime. She is the creator of the CPTED Socio-Urban Risk Management System and has more than 25 years of experience leading social projects and designing strategies for violence and crime prevention. Mercedes currently serves as Chair of the ICA Mexico Chapter and is an Elected Director on the Global Executive Board of the International CPTED Association (ICA) for the 2025–2027 term. She is also member of the ICA CPTED in School Committee.

Email Mercedes: mercedes.escudero@cpted.net

Abstract

Aligned with the ICA 2026 Conference theme—emphasizing community building, empowerment, and stronger collaboration between communities and institutions—this paper explores how CPTED education can begin at an early age by actively engaging children as participants in building safer environments. By introducing CPTED principles in educational contexts, the initiative contributes to long-term community empowerment and supports the development of preventive capacities within future generations.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) has traditionally been disseminated among security professionals, urban planners, architects, and policy specialists. While community participation has long been recognized as a transversal pillar of the methodology, children have rarely been considered active agents in CPTED processes beyond consultative exercises such as the “Cloud of Dreams” approach or general school-based safety guidelines.

This paper proposes an innovative pedagogical dimension: CPTED for Kids. It argues that early-age education in environmental awareness, territoriality, core CPTED principles, and shared responsibility for community safety can significantly strengthen the long-term implementation of CPTED strategies. Introducing these concepts during formative years can help cultivate a culture of prevention embedded in everyday spatial practices and social interactions.

Working with children requires a differentiated methodological approach. Storytelling has historically proven to be one of the most effective tools for conveying educational and formative messages to young audiences. The development of short narrative stories featuring animal characters and relatable mascots provides a playful yet structured framework for translating complex CPTED principles into accessible learning experiences. Through symbolic representation, children can understand concepts such as safe spaces, collective care, visibility, and environmental responsibility in an engaging and meaningful way.

Beyond printed stories, this approach offers strong scalability potential through animated micro-videos, illustrated comics, and digital educational content. The presentation at the CPTED Conference 2026 will showcase progress achieved through this initiative, including pilot materials developed under the CPTED for Kids concept, and proposes a practical workshop with children during the conference.

9:00 am – 9:30 am

CPTED in Schools – The Evolution of Safety (Learning from TID Strategies)

O. Wayne Reynaud; Educational Facilities Architect & Safe School Design Specialist | Principal & Regional K-12 Practice Director, HKS Architects | Texas, USA

Wayne is a Principal at HKS Architects, Inc. in Dallas since 2014. As the Regional K-12 Practice Director, he serves K-12 public school clients with a comprehensive knowledge and passionate determination to achieve their objectives. He brings over thirty five years’ experience designing educational facilities, having led numerous planning efforts in over 20 Southern Region school districts. Registered as an REFP in 2012, Wayne has been deeply involved in A4LE at both the Chapter and Region Board levels. He has fostered and promoted key forward-looking initiatives throughout his career, becoming WELL AP certified in 2018. His Article titled Designing for Student Wellness was published in the Fall 2019 edition of Learning By Design.

Wayne has also been an advocate of safe school design. A member of the International Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Association (ICA), he has presented at symposiums and conferences on this subject throughout the years at the request of professionals and clients. A native of Louisiana and graduate of Louisiana Tech University, Wayne is an involved member of his local church and community. He enjoys practicing and teaching martial arts as well as mentoring others in community service self-defense training. Also, he is proud to note that he has been married to a schoolteacher for 31 years which has provided incredible insight and together they raised a son who is a professional artist and children’s book illustrator.

Email Wayne: Wreynaud@hksinc.com

Abstract

CPTED is evolving. This evolution requires our industry to reflect on our understanding not just of security but of a child’s felt sense of safety.

Understanding that, as the Trauma-Informed Design Society says, “each person is their own gauge of safety, and that when that is breached, it needs to be restored as soon as possible. Therefore, it does not matter if we as professionals believe the situation is safe if the participant does not feel safe themselves.”

Designing Educational Environments that offer students and teachers alike safe environments to opportunities to learn, achieve and succeed is an Imperative to our industry. A holistic approach is the mandate to achieve this goal. CPTED, TiD, Social Emotional Learning Strategies, and Well AP Guidelines should all come to bear on our design solutions to explore the best outcomes that are synergistic to all the needs of the Educational End User.

Trauma among students is a growing affliction threatening the wellbeing of nations and children’s futures, demanding a call to action to address this important issue in the school systems in our communities. Administrators in school districts, government regulators, localities, and other stakeholders have a responsibility to ameliorate this growing epidemic as both a societal obligation and moral imperative.

PROPOSED APPROACHES:

Social & Emotional Learning (SEL), Trauma Informed Design (TID) and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) have all been part of the design toolkit for learning environments. This session proposes how architects, designers and researchers working together with school districts and communities can contribute to Designing for Student Wellbeing by finding common ground between SEL, TID and CPTED strategies.

9:30 am – 10:15 am

CPTED in Schools – Diagnostic Instruments [Interactive Session]

Carlos Alfredo Gutiérrez Vera; Architect and Urban Planner | ICA Director | Ecuador

Email Carlos: carlos.gutierrez@cpted.net

Elisabeth Miller; Neighborhood Safety Coordinator, Urban Planner and SafeGrowth Specialist | ICA Director/Secretary | Saskatchewan, Canada

Elisabeth Miller, MCIP, is a municipal urban planner with a specialty in urban safety and SafeGrowth®. Currently she is the Neighborhood Safety Coordinator responsible for implementing SafeGrowth® training and working with communities to identify issues, carry out risk assessments and safety audits, public engagement, and the implementation of safety recommendations. She chairs the City of Saskatoon’s CPTED Review Committee and co-teaches SafeGrowth® & CPTED courses to civic staff. Over 200 people have been trained since 2000. Elisabeth joined the ICA Board of Directors in 2008 and was appointed as a Secretary in 2019.

Email Elisabeth: elisabeth.miller@cpted.net

René Berndt; Architect and Learning Environment Specialist | Associate Principal, Mahlum Architects | ICA Director | Oregon, USA

Rene Berndt, Associate Principal at Mahlum Architects, with 33 years architectural experience and extensive knowledge of learning environments. Rene has presented and discussed his research about the impact of the physical environment on the process of learning at conferences and universities, both locally and internationally. Rene most recently studied how the perception of “feeling well and safe at school” differs between the learner, educator and parent and currently serves on the International CPTED Association (ICA) board of directors. He is co-author of the 2022 ICA guidebook “CPTED in Schools – A comprehensive approach” and the new CPTED in Schools safety audit.

Email René: RBerndt@mahlum.com

Abstract

Implementing violence prevention strategies is a complex task that requires multiple approaches in different areas of human existence. The ICA CPTED in School Committee has been developing violence prevention interventions in a comprehensive manner, utilizing the conceptual basis of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) as a methodology. In 2022, the ICA CPTED in Schools Committee developed a CPTED for Schools guidebook that outlines a comprehensive approach by incorporating recommendations for school violence prevention measures in the physical, social, and psycho-emotional environments.

ISO 22341 states that the first stage in the application of CPTED is diagnostic process. The ICA CPTED in Schools Committee has been developing diagnostic instruments to collect relevant information in the three mentioned environments. These instruments have been developed to capture the unique viewpoint and experience of a diverse group of stakeholders in each school community: students, educators, administrators, custodians, guardians, and community members.

The CPTED in Schools Safety Audit evaluates the physical, social, and psycho-emotional environments and consists of two parts:

A. Quick Assessment, which consists of a brief site visit and interviews of available stakeholders to assess the safety situation at the school.

B. The comprehensive Safety Audit which is a more involved process conducted by a certified CPTED practitioner.

The CPTED in Schools Committee proposes to present the 2022 ICA CPTED in Schools guidebook and reveal the new ICA CPTED in Schools Safety Audit during a participatory workshop at the conference. Participants will be able to test the Quick Assessment in real time.

The workshop will be facilitated by the members of the CPTED in Schools Committee team.

10:15 am – 10:45 am

First, Second, and Third Generation CPTED for Quadrant 143 in Las Condes, Chile: Reducing Fear Through Community Participation

Dr Macarena Rau Vargas; Architect, Urbanist & CPTED Specialist | Executive Director @ Publika Consulting Company | ICA Director/President | Region Metropolitana, Chile

Architect, Master and PhD in Urbanism with extensive experience leading Urban Security Projects and Initiatives, both public and private, in Chile and in several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Specialist in the CPTED methodology (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) with proven success in the diagnosis, design, implementation and evaluation of projects for the Prevention of Violence and Crime from an Environmental perspective with experience in the application and teaching of CPTED in various countries around the world.

She is currently President of the International CPTED Association (www.cpted.net).

Positions

President of the International CPTED Association (ICA; www.cpted.net).
President and founder of the Corporation for Crime Prevention through Environmental Design in Chile (www.cpted-region.org).
Executive Director and founder of Publika Consulting Company (www.pbk.cl).
Reviewer of the Journal of Applied Security Research 2020 (Routledge).

Email Macarena: president@cpted.net

Abstract

The commune of Las Condes is in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago in Chile. Since December 2024, municipal teams have initiated development of a communal security strategy based on the Security Quadrant Plan, widely used by Carabineros de Chile. Among the communal quadrants, the 143 in Rotonda Atenas registers the highest number of crimes and the greatest perception of insecurity, according to information from the Communal Observatory.

The CPTED methodology (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), especially in its third generation, begins to be used in quadrant 143 to offer a comprehensive socio-environmental intervention that not only addresses situational problems of special criminal location but also deepens the understanding of emotional wounds and environmental psychological factors as part of scenarios of violence affecting the neighbours of the quadrant and in particular, the school community. In this line of action and using the Third Generation CPTED, the diagnostic tool Cloud of Dream was applied to the 4th grade in the elementary schools in San Jorge de las Condes, located in the quadrant, to analyse which psychological, emotional, and environmental variables are linked to scenarios of violence in public, domestic, and school spaces. The presentation will describe the application of this tool in the context of the quadrant and municipal strategy, elaborating conclusions to the analysis of the qualitative information based on the theoretical framework of CPTED and Resilience (ISO CPTED 22341) and the application of an integral CPTED Masterplan in quadrant 143, considering the following three aspects as conceptual axes:

It is essential that, when working on resilience in (school) communities, it is done with a holistic approach to risk prevention that works on trauma considering threats of different kinds such as crime and violence, natural threats, health threats (such as pandemics), internal wars and conflicts in countries, etc. (Grünwaldt, 2021 in Anwandter and Esquivel, 2021).

There is an undeniable relationship between violence and social vulnerability of communities, either as one of the original sources of vulnerability and/or because of disasters (Anwandter and Esquivel, 2021).

Violence erodes the possibility for communities to build mechanisms for prevention, preparedness, and response to disasters and climate change, so preventing it is key to increasing the adaptive capacity and, therefore, the resilience of a community (Grünwaldt, 2021, in Anwandter and Esquivel, 2021).

10:45 am – 11:15 am

The Story of the Cosmo Civic Centre: From Problem Child to Leader

Elisabeth Miller; Neighborhood Safety Coordinator, Urban Planner and SafeGrowth Specialist | ICA Director/Secretary | Saskatchewan, Canada

Elisabeth Miller (MCIP, ICCP-Professional) is an urban planner with the City of Saskatoon with a specialty in urban safety and SafeGrowth. Currently she is the Neighbourhood Safety Coordinator responsible for implementing CPTED and SafeGrowth training and working with communities to identify issues, carry out risk assessments and safety audits, public engagement and the implementation of safety recommendations. She also chairs the City of Saskatoon’s CPTED Review Committee which is a transdisciplinary partnership from various civic departments.

Elisabeth is an active member of the Canadian Institute of Planners helped create and publish CIP’s A Kid’s Guide to Building Great Communities: A Manual for Planners and Educators. Elisabeth views SafeGrowth/CPTED process as an important cross over with urban planning an excellent vehicle for engaging children and youth in their community.

Email Elisabeth: e.miller@sasktel.net

Abstract

Let me tell you a story about a civic centre in a mid-sized Canadian city that is rising from the ashes of neglect and fractured partnerships. This story fills me with joy and, although I would like to take credit for it all, it started with me but then began a life of its own.

We often talk about evaluation and seeing how things are working or not working. This project has some hard statistics, but the qualitative data is profound. This is the story of the Cosmo Civic Centre, its challenges, and its rise. The story shows how the Tipping Point works in a positive manner.

This presentation will cover:

Background of the Civic Centre
Issues at and around the Civic Centre
What was the final straw
CPTED Technical Audit and report
Recommendations
Then what happened???? This is the magic.

11:15 am – 12:15 pm

Deterring Flash and Crash Mob Robs With CPTED

Dr Randy Atlas; Architect, Criminologist & CPTED Expert | President of Atlas Safety & Security Design Inc. | ICA Director | Florida, USA

Randy Atlas is America’s only architect / criminologist. Atlas received his Doctorate of Criminology from Florida State University, a Masters in Architecture from the University of Illinois, and a Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree from University of South Florida. Atlas is president of Atlas Safety & Security Design Inc., based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is a registered architect in Florida, nationally accredited with National Council Architectural Registration Board (N.C.A.R.B.), and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Dr. Atlas is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) from the ASIS International, and past chairman of the ASIS Security Architecture and Engineering Council, and an appointed member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Premises Security Committee, which developed the new NFPA 730/731 premises security standards and guidelines.

Atlas is a committee member of the American Society Of Testing Materials (ASTM) F33 on Corrections and Detention Facilities, and the ASTM E54 Homeland Security Committee. He is a member of the Florida Design Out Crime network, a Board member of the International CPTED Association (ICA), a member of the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners, and the International Association of Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and member of the International Association of Professional Security Consultants. Dr. Atlas is a nationally recognized trainer and author on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Atlas authored the book 21st Century Security and CPTED in 2008, and the new 2nd Edition in 2013. Atlas teaches an on-line E Learning CPTED Certified Practitioners course at www.cpted-security.com that is certified by the International CPTED Association. Atlas is certified as an advanced CPTED practitioner and trainer through ICA.

Email Randy: ratlas@ix.netcom.com

John Beatson; CPTED Instructor @ CPTED Alberta | Former Police Officer | CPTED-PCAM Canada President | ICA Director | Edmonton, Canada

John is a former police officer retiring in 2020 after 33 years of service with the Toronto Police Service (TPS) and Edmonton Police Service (EPS). John worked in a variety of areas including Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB), Youth Bureau (YB), Training and Education (T&E), Special Weapons Tactical Unit (SWAT), Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) and Crime Prevention Unit (CPU).

During his time in the Crime Prevention Unit, John was introduced to CPTED in 2014. He immediately saw the benefits of CPTED and became the subject matter expert for the Edmonton Police Service.

John took part in numerous CPTED assessments and overlooked assessments conducted by Edmonton Police Officers as well as facilitated CPTED courses. John embraced CPTED because he recognized that CPTED helped reduce or prevent crime unlike traditional policing methods that had officers responding to calls that were in progress or already happened. Retiring gave John the opportunity to pursue his passion with CPTED and he created CPTED Alberta (cptedalberta.com).

John is the President of the Canadian Chapter of the ICA. He feels privileged to be elected on the ICA Board and looks forward to sharing knowledge with and learning from a diverse group of brilliant people in efforts to improve safety and quality of life for as many people as possible in his country and around the world.

Email John: john.beatson@cpted.net

Abstract

This presentation addresses the blight of organized retail theft by flash and crash rob mobs! In recent months there have been numerous, well organized, flash rob mobs of stores, that have resulted in large losses of products, and employees and customers getting hurt. Traditional target hardening strategies are not working because of the lack of enforcement and in some cases decriminalization of shoplifting offenses not being classified as a felony anymore. The presentation will address this growing problem, use of CPTED strategies, criminal justice strategies, employee training and security guard training, and enough target hardening to reduce the ease and opportunity. Real-world examples and case studies will be presented.

The presentation will also address vehicle ramming attacks, and the appropriate mitigation measures that can be used to deter this, since driving through storefronts is one of the tactics used by the burglars and robbers to gain store entry.

Learning Objective #1: Attendees will experience the swiftness and organized manner in which these attacks occur.

Learning Objective #2: Learn the CPTED techniques that can be used in retail environments to discourage easy shoplifting and pilferage and damage to the storefronts, and protective cases.

Learning Objective #3: Learn and experience real-world examples of successful and unsuccessful applications of security access control technologies, security sallyports and vestibules, staff policy and procedures, and what Criminal Justice Reforms are needed to fix this problem.

1:15 pm – 1:45 pm

Theory to Street-level Impact: The Untapped CPTED Power of Municipal Bylaw Departments

Barry Davidson; Manager of Bylaw & Licensing Services | CPTED Practitioner | ICA Director/Treasurer | British Columbia, Canada

Barry Davidson is the Manager of Bylaw & Licensing Services for the Municipality of North Cowichan, British Columbia. With decades of experience in executive protection, security risk management, CPTED, and volunteer fire service, Barry brings a systems-based perspective to municipal community safety. His work bridges enforcement, social planning, and community engagement, focusing on operationalizing 3rd and 4th Generation CPTED principles within local government. Drawing on leadership in healthcare project management and frontline emergency response, he advances practical, compassionate strategies that integrate regulatory authority, environmental design, and social policy to strengthen neighbourhood resilience and public confidence.

Email Barry: Barry@DavidsonGlobal.ca

Abstract

CPTED has evolved significantly over the past four decades through the efforts of the ICA and advocates within the practice, yet implementation at the municipal level often remains fragmented. While planners, architects, and police are commonly positioned as primary CPTED actors, one critical municipal function is frequently overlooked: the bylaw department.

This presentation explores how municipal bylaw services can serve as powerful operational engines and engagement leaders for 3rd and 4th Generation CPTED. Bylaw officers work daily at the intersection of environment, behaviour, and vulnerability. They regulate land use, business activity, public space, nuisance conditions, and property standards — all core levers influencing safety, perception, and community confidence. When trained and strategically aligned, bylaw teams become environmental intelligence gatherers, early-warning sensors for social disorder, and catalysts for public space activation.

Drawing from my leadership experience in municipal bylaw, risk management, and CPTED practice, this session will demonstrate how organizational structure matters. In particular, it will examine the advantage of situating bylaw services under a leader with a social planning mandate. This governance model enables enforcement decisions to be informed by social policy, trauma-aware approaches, and collaborative partnerships — transforming encampment response, nuisance mitigation, and neighbourhood engagement into integrated CPTED strategies.

Attendees will gain a practical framework for embedding CPTED into municipal operations through regulatory authority, cross-departmental collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and officer wellness strategies.

If CPTED is to move beyond reports and into sustained community resilience, municipalities — and especially bylaw departments — must be central to the conversation.

1:45 pm – 2:15 pm

Community Engagement Around Safety – How to Set Up a Community-wide Safety Workshop?

René Berndt; Architect and Learning Environment Specialist | Associate Principal, Mahlum Architects | ICA Director | Oregon, USA

Email René: RBerndt@mahlum.com

Abstract

ICA published a guidebook that specifically addressed safety concerns in learning environments in 2022. It is called “CPTED in School – A Comprehensive Approach” and is available to all ICA members at no cost. The “Comprehensive Approach” is based on the understanding that all original thinking around CPTED is intended to consider all dimensions of the human experience, which include the physical, social and psycho-emotional environment. The guidebook also stresses the importance of establishing goals, aspirations and strategies around safety that reflect the specific socio-economic and cultural context of each school.

To achieve this alignment, the ICA CPTED in Schools committee is proposing to organize a Community Safety Workshop. The presenters will work you through the steps, tools and resources to do so successfully at the beginning of a new school design, modernization, safety assessment or security master plan. Together we will share how to achieve the following milestones:

Identify a diverse range of community voices to be invited to participate
Establish the Safety Framework and define the threat categories
Clarify goals and aspirations around each threat category
Translate the aspirations into strategies / action items
Prioritize implementation based on availability of resources
Define how you measure success in 1, 3, 5 years.

2:15 pm – 2:45 pm

Reframing Safety Through CPTED – Lessons From San Romanoway

Mateja Mihinjac; Criminologist, Researcher and Consultant | CPTED and SafeGrowth Specialist | Director of AlterNation – Europe | ICA Director | Slovenia

Mateja is a criminologist and researcher from Slovenia currently completing doctoral research at Griffith University, Australia. Her thesis looks into the implementation of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Mateja is certified in SafeGrowth® program and has co-taught SafeGrowth® workshops in Australia, Europe, Canada, New Zealand and across the United States. She is a European partner of AlterNation, a consulting company that created SafeGrowth®. She also provides research and consulting services in criminology and crime prevention with a focus on CPTED.

As a consultant, Mateja specializes in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design including 2nd and 3rd Generation CPTED. She co-created 3rd Generation CPTED with Gregory Saville. She has studied criminal justice issues in Europe and Australia since 2009. She worked in the Constitutional Court in Slovenia and has extensive computer and analytical skills including database management and geographic information systems. She is Board member and former Executive Director at the International CPTED Association (ICA). She is the chair of the ICA’s ICCP certification program.

Email Mateja: Mateja.mihinjac@cpted.net

Gregory Saville; Criminologist, Urban Planner and CPTED Specialist | Founder of CEO of AlterNation LLC | SafeGrowth Creator | ICA Co-Founder | Colorado, USA

Gregory Saville is a creator of the SafeGrowth® method for building neighborhoods free of crime and fear. He is a founder and CEO of AlterNation, an international consulting firm leading SafeGrowth® training and development. He is a former police officer and criminologist who consults and trains police departments, urban planners and designers, community associations, and municipal governments in problem-solving and CPTED. He is also a registered urban planner specializing in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design – CPTED – especially 2nd and 3rd Generation CPTED, concepts he co-created with Gerard Cleveland and Mateja Mihinjac. He has served as legal expert witness in criminal and civil cases regarding criminal target selection and spatial forensics.

In 1996 he co-founded and is Distinguished Lifetime Member of the International CPTED Association, is co-chair of the Police Society for Problem-Based Learning, and currently serves as a judge with the International Problem-Oriented Policing Herman Goldstein Award program. He has worked as faculty member in criminology at Florida State University, as research professor at the Forensic Science and Public Safety School at the University of New Haven, and as associate adjunct professor at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Environmental Design.

Email Greg: Gregory.saville@cpted.net

Abstract

More than two decades after its launch, the San Romanoway revitalization in Toronto’s Jane–Finch corridor offers a rare longitudinal test of whether CPTED can produce durable change rather than short-term improvement. Initiated in 2000 within a modernist “tower-in-the-park” complex marked by severe crime, social isolation, and deteriorating quality of life, the project began as a response to the familiar design failures identified in early defensible space research. What followed, however, was not simply a physical retrofit. Over 27 years, the site evolved from a high-risk environment into a sustained, resident-driven model of safety and livability, providing an unusually long case study that traces the progression from first-generation CPTED design fixes, to second-generation social cohesion strategies, and ultimately toward a third-generation framework embedding safety within community governance, local capacity, and everyday life.

The presentation traces how interventions began with social programming beyond first-generation CPTED (target hardening and situational fixes). They introduced strategies that evolved into second-generation CPTED, emphasizing social cohesion, community capacity, and activation of shared spaces. They created a community-based model through the non-profit San Romanoway Revitalization Association and, over the span of 5 years, residents became active participants and co-producers in shaping safer environments, addressing isolation and underutilized public space.

Over two decades later, project success continues and it now demonstrates a shift toward third-generation CPTED, where safety is embedded within broader goals of liveability, sustainability, and community empowerment by the community itself. These lessons evolved into the SafeGrowth model, and they demonstrate how safety emerges not as an outcome of isolated interventions, but as a product of integrated planning, local governance, and strengthened social infrastructure.

Aligned with the conference theme, revisiting this long-term Canadian success story illustrates that improving quality of life through design requires moving beyond physical interventions toward holistic, community-driven approaches, where safety and liveability are mutually reinforcing outcomes.

The session will take the form of an interactive workshop. Following a brief overview of CPTED’s three generations and the San Romanoway case, participants will work collaboratively to identify and map potential 3rd Generation CPTED strategies and how they might be applied. This exercise will encourage critical reflection on how layered CPTED approaches can be used to improve safety and quality of life through design in diverse contexts.

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Creating Safe and Livable Public Housing in the Northwest Territories

Dr Tarah Hodgkinson; Associate Professor of Criminology and Director of Research Impact at Wilfrid Laurier University | Criminologist & SafeGrowth Practitioner | Ontario, Canada

Tarah Hodgkinson is an associate professor in the department of criminology and the director of research impact in the office of research services at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is also a SafeGrowth practitioner and a former director at large for the ICA.

Email Tarah: thodgkinson@wlu.ca

Becca Denley; Architectural Designer and Comprehensive Planning Professional | Manager of Design, Housing NWT | Northwest Territories, Canada

Becca Denley is the manager of design for infrastructure services at Housing NWT. She is also the founder and program director for SHIFT: Decreasing Barriers to Active Mobility, a free bike-share program for Yellowknife. Trained in architectural design and comprehensive planning she is passionate about designing spaces that are safe, nurturing, and foster meaningful connections.

Email Becca: Becca_Denley@gov.nt.ca

Anna Brassard; Registered Professional Planner | CPTED and SafeGrowth Practitioner | Alberta, Canada

Anna Brassard is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and Registered Professional Planner with the Alberta Professional Planning Institute. She has 20 years of experience as a professional planner and has worked in the fields of strategic planning, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), facilitation, facility planning, master planning and comprehensive community planning with First Nation communities. Brassard is also a SafeGrowth practitioner and former adjunct assistant professor.

Email Anna: aebrassard@pm.me

Abstract

Crime and safety have long been an area of concern in public housing. Despite several studies promoting the benefits of integrating first, second, and third generation CPTED principles when attempting to prevent crime and victimization, these strategies are often absent from public housing planning. Furthermore, the majority of the research focuses on urban, high-density, American, public housing developments, and does not explore the unique challenges residents of remote and/or northern public housing face when attempting to improve safety and well-being for residents.

In the Northwest Territories (NWT), public housing accounts for the majority of housing stock. This housing is often low-density and reflects the northern topography and climate. In addition, residents in these complexes often suffer from complex issues related to poverty, a history of colonization, and intergenerational trauma and lack consistent access to important resources like social and emergency response services. Efforts to improve safety and well-being in these spaces are hindered by this lack of capacity as well as the reliance on planning and safety guidelines developed for southern and urban communities. As such, there is a clear and critical need for evidence-based, context-specific approaches and guidelines for Northern public housing.

In this study, we explore the implementation of CPTED and SafeGrowth principles into public housing design in three communities in the NWT. These efforts reflect a timely and unique opportunity to influence the development of three new housing structures as well as develop community-led, evidence-based recommendations for ongoing policy and practice in the NWT. The collaboration between planners, criminologists, and practitioners will directly support safe design and social development in these housing complexes. The long-term impact of this project is to build safer and more inclusive housing for all NWT residents.

3:15 pm – 3:45 pm

High-rise CPTED: Ensuring Long-term Sustainability Over a Quarter Century

Dr Mark Stokes; Senior Lecturer, University of the West of England | Crime Prevention and CPTED Specialist/Consultant | Avon and Somerset, England, UK

Mark served as a police officer for 33 years with West Midlands Police – specialising in CPTED, suicide prevention, CCTV, and counter terrorism design. In ‘retirement’ he has been a CPTED practitioner, manager and consultant; war crimes investigator; Herefordshire’s rural and business crime officer; and since 2022 a Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Mark holds a BSc (Honours) degree from the Open University, MA in Public Order from Leicester University and in 2022 was awarded his doctorate by Huddersfield University – after investigating the sustainability of CPTED over a quarter century at four inner-city tower blocks.

Email Mark: Mark.Stokes@uwe.ac.uk

Abstract

This presentation examines one of the most longrunning and well evidenced applications of CPTED in the United Kingdom: the refurbishment and crime reduction programme delivered at The Four Towers – a cluster of 1,250rey residential highrise blocks at Dudeston Manor, Birmingham. Constructed in the 1950s, these Modernist X-shaped tower blocks were originally considered an innovative response to postwar housing shortages. However, by the late 1980s they had become severely blighted by high levels of residential burglary, endemic antisocial behaviour, and serious violent crime.

In 1989, Birmingham City Council secured £4 million of central government Estate Action funding to refurbish The Four Towers, initiating a unique partnership between West Midlands Police, City Council departments and the tenants/residents. This collaboration aligned emerging CPTED practice delivered by the newly formalised role of CPTED Adviser. Extensive community consultation and the active involvement of highly motivated tenants ensured that residents’ safety and security concerns were embedded throughout the design process.

The refurbishment implemented a comprehensive package of CPTED measures, including high quality MulTsecure apartment doors, strengthened communal entrances, CCTV throughout communal areas and lifts, improved lighting, symbolic and physical barriers, and restrictions on access and movement. These were complemented by Defensible Space principles and a 24/7 concierge presence.

The resulting impact was exceptional. Residential burglary (identified as the crime type most susceptible to CPTED intervention) fell by 89.2%, a reduction sustained for almost 25 years after refurbishment was completed in 1992. Evidence of anticipatory benefits emerged even before contractors began work, and burglary rates thereafter remained extremely low, averaging 1.9 offences per year across all four blocks.

This case study offers rare longitudinal evidence of durable, sustainable crime prevention in highrise environments. It demonstrates how CPTED, when combined with meaningful resident partnership and thoughtful design, can transform vulnerable housing and thereby evidence the quality of life through design.

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Site Tours: East Village & Calgary LRT (Light Rail Transit)

Anna Brassard; Registered Professional Planner | CPTED and SafeGrowth Practitioner | Alberta, Canada

Email Anna: aebrassard@pm.me

John Beatson; CPTED Instructor @ CPTED Alberta | Former Police Officer | CPTED-PCAM Canada President | ICA Director | Edmonton, Canada

During his time in the Crime Prevention Unit, John was introduced to CPTED in 2014. He immediately saw the benefits of CPTED and became the subject matter expert for the Edmonton Police Service.

Email John: john.beatson@cpted.net

Kimberly Shaw; Security Professional and Crime Prevention/CPTED Advisor; Alberta Government | CPTED-PCAM Board Member | Alberta, Canada

Kimberly is a dedicated security professional with the Government of Alberta, where she provides strategic security and crime prevention advice.

Kimberly is known for translating complex security issues into practical, sustainable solutions that support both operational effectiveness and community well-being. She is deeply passionate about Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and its ability to create safer, more inclusive environments through thoughtful design and collaboration.

In addition to her professional role, Kimberly volunteers as a Board Member with CPTED-PCAM Canada and has served as Programs Director with her community league in Edmonton for the past 11 years.

Email Kimberly: Kimberly.shaw@shaw.ca

Dr Randy Atlas; Architect, Criminologist & CPTED Expert | President of Atlas Safety & Security Design Inc. | ICA Director | Florida, USA

Dr. Atlas is a nationally recognized trainer and author on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) for the National Crime Prevention Institute (NCPI), which is part of the University of Louisville. He has conducted over 200 workshops and seminars on CPTED and Critical Infrastructure Protection around the world and has uniquely combined the fields of architecture, security, and criminology.

Dr. Atlas serves as an adjunct professor in architecture and criminal justice at Florida Atlantic University College of Architecture and teaches one of the few CPTED classes in the world to architecture, urban planning, and criminal justice students. Atlas is a master CPTED instructor trainer with NCPI, AIA, and ASIS International. He is a practitioner and designs functionally integrated security design systems using the CPTED methodology in all building/ facility types including transportation.

Email Randy: ratlas@ix.netcom.com

Abstract

This session begins on Saturday with two guided site tours: Calgary’s East Village and the City Hall LRT (Light Rail Transit) Station located next to the conference hotel. These tours will provide participants with a hands-on introduction to real-world Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessment processes and will serve as the foundation for collaborative design charrette sessions held the following day.

The East Village tour will be led by Anna Brassard, while the LRT station assessment tour will be led by Kimberly Shaw and John Beatson. Participants will explore safety concerns, environmental challenges, and opportunities for improving public spaces and transit environments through CPTED principles and community-focused design strategies.

On Sunday, Dr. Randy Atlas will facilitate an interactive tabletop design charrette and guided discussion based on observations and assessment findings from both site visits. Participants will work collaboratively to identify key issues, develop recommendations, and explore practical CPTED solutions for safer, more connected, and more resilient public environments.

Recommendations developed during the sessions may be incorporated as an addendum to the formal CPTED assessment report, offering attendees a meaningful opportunity to contribute to an actual project. This workshop is designed to reinforce conference themes through applied learning, collaborative engagement, and direct experience with CPTED assessment and problem-solving in complex urban settings.