Target hardening the college campus through stakeholder input: Merging community and the security survey

Physical security surveys have for many years been an integral component of an overall crime prevention plan for post-secondary institutions. As assessment tools, they highlight vulnerable features of design and environment that could potentially put persons or property at risk. Noticeably absent from a majority of these surveys is input from the constituents (community) that regularly use these complexes as students, employees, residents, or visitors. The perceptions of these users give a differing perspective on how those who may perhaps be most familiar with the institution under scrutiny view potential risks. By merging a physical survey of facilities with stakeholder input, a more comprehensive crime control strategy can be developed and implemented that addresses the needs of both users and administrators. The present research illustrates how such a dual method was undertaken at an urban university and discusses the benefits that emerge when two perspectives are taken into account in developing an institutional security plan.