Preventing Public Disorder

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Abstract

This guide provides guidance to merchants and their law enforcement partners in developing strategies to prevent public disorder problems, such as public intoxication, vandalism, and loitering. The guide walks readers through the process of understanding the root causes of public disorders, identifying potential strategies, and measuring the impact of those strategies. While public disorder problems vary based on local context, promising strategies to address them include: broadcasting classical music; improving lighting in parking facilities and building exteriors; securing perimeters to limit pedestrian access; and establishing policies and sanctions regarding acceptable public behavior. This guide is one in a series of six crime prevention publications that focus on the use of public/private partnerships to address crime.

Understanding Public Disorder

An array of concerns can be categorized under the umbrella term “public disorder,” some of which are not technically unlawful criminal acts. Common public disorder problems experienced by retailers involve unwanted individuals engaging in a variety of inappropriate activity, such as trespassing, loitering, disturbing the peace, public urination, public intoxication, or sleeping on or around a business’ property.

Public Disorder Patterns

Types of people who engage in public disorder include area residents, students, transient persons, people looking for work, and juveniles. Juveniles with few alternatives for non-school activities are a common cause of disorder. By congregating in retail areas, they often cause disruption and unease among legitimate shoppers.

Understanding some of the reasons why individuals create disorder in retail areas is an important step in thinking about solutions to the problem. Convenience is likely a common factor for all individuals contributing to disorder in retail areas. Proximity to schools, fast food restaurants, public housing areas, parks, or bars make a retail area the likely subject of trespassing, loitering, and other public disturbances. In some communities, retail shops may be viewed as the only form of entertainment available. Furthermore, organizations serving indigent populations, such as a drug treatment center, homeless shelter, health clinic, blood/plasma donation center, hospital, or food kitchen, may increase a retailer’s exposure to loitering, suspicious activity, public substance abuse, or sleeping or urinating in public. Businesses located in disadvantaged areas are susceptible to disorderly activity, particularly if the property is not well maintained.

A business’ physical design may also create an atmosphere that invites or encourages disorderly behavior. Retail areas with chairs, benches, or other comfortable places to sit or lean will increase the likelihood of individuals loitering, trespassing, or causing further aggravation. Businesses with public telephones, video games, or fully accessible public rest rooms also create opportunities for public disorder.

(End of excerpt. The entire guide is available in PDF format.)

The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders.

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