At the 3rd Annual US CPTED Conference, Barb Biondo of the Seattle Police Department presented a powerful case study on the intersection of Place-Based Crime Prevention (PBCP) and CPTED in urban safety initiatives. While not a featured session, her presentation offered some of the most evidence-driven, actionable insights on how public safety strategies can be rooted in physical design, social cohesion, and long-term community investment.

Her full presentation, Place-Based Crime Prevention: An Evidence-Based Approach to Reducing and Preventing Crime, is available below.

Place-Based Crime Prevention: A Strategic Framework

Barb emphasized that crime is not randomly distributed—it concentrates in hotspots. PBCP focuses on identifying and transforming these persistent problem areas. By coordinating with local stakeholders, including city agencies, schools, businesses, and residents, Seattle has launched multiyear efforts to change how neighborhoods function and feel. Two of the city’s notable initiatives—Rainier Beach: A Beautiful Safe Place for Youth and Little Saigon’s Phố Đẹp project—exemplify this place-based approach.

Where CPTED Fits Into PBCP

CPTED plays a foundational role in Seattle’s crime prevention strategy. Barb outlined five overlapping CPTED principles used in physical design improvements:

• Territorial Reinforcement: Encouraging ownership of space through design that defines public and private areas.

• Natural Access Control: Guiding movement with pathways, signage, and barriers to reduce criminal opportunity.

• Natural Surveillance: Designing open sightlines, lighting, and transparency to increase visibility.

• Image and Maintenance: Reinforcing care and order through upkeep and aesthetic cues.

• Community Activation: Engaging those who live, work, or visit a space to play an active role in its upkeep and safety.

Each of these strategies is embedded in broader PBCP efforts—from lighting pedestrian walkways to organizing “Corner Greeters” and storefront CPTED improvement grants.

The Broader Impact

Biondo’s presentation made clear that CPTED, when layered with social and policy-based interventions, builds the capacity of communities to take ownership of their safety. Her work shows that addressing crime isn’t just a policing issue—it’s about place, people, and policy working together.

Barb Biondo’s presentation at the US CPTED Conference reminds us that the smallest design decisions can have the largest safety impacts. Through Place-Based Crime Prevention and CPTED, cities like Seattle are reimagining high-risk areas into safe, connected, and thriving communities. To explore her full presentation and the tools used in Seattle’s approach, view the complete slide deck