Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) has gained momentum in recent years and has been widely adopted by planners, architects, and security professionals for the design of buildings, sites, parks, and urban renewal projects. The CPTED model emphasizes designs that encourage positive...

The attorney/prisoner interview room has been a hot topic during recent courthouse space programming efforts. Historically, the attorney/prisoner interview room, if one even exists, has been located in the basement within the central cellblock. While it is undoubtedly appropriate to find interview...

When we think of landscaping around a courthouse, or any building for that matter, we usually consider only the aesthetic value the landscaping provides. After all, greenery can really enhance the look of a building, and who wants a bare building rising from an expanse of dirt or concrete? However,...

CPTED (pronounced “sep-ted”) stands for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. It was developed in the 1970s from an earlier 1960s' concept for urban planning and renewal known as "defensible space." Since then, it has become more widely adopted by planners, architects, and security...

I’ve been troubled by recent events outside of the federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon, and across this country. Sadly, while most of the protests have been peaceful, some folks are taking advantage of the right to protest by initiating violence. As a result, lives are being lost and buildings...