The most widely cited standard on school security in the United States is the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design guidelines developed by the National Institute of Justice . CPTED is a multidisciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior through the design and management of the built and natural environment. It emphasizes the importance of designing schools and their surroundings in a way that maximizes natural surveillance, territoriality, and access control, while minimizing opportunities for crime and creating a sense of ownership and community.
CPTED guidelines have been adopted by many schools and law enforcement agencies across the country and are often referenced in school safety plans, security assessments, and training programs required by the Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.
