“NOBODY'S SAFE!”

CPTED effects on personal and altruistic fear of crime

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31060/rbsp.2026.v20.n2.2185

Keywords:

Crime Prevention, Environmental Design, Fear of Crime, Personal Fear of Crime, Altruistic Fear of Crime

Abstract

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a widely recognized urban planning approach aimed at addressing both real and perceived crime. For instance, this model is commonly applied in the revitalization of deteriorating neighborhoods facing significant public safety concerns. The present study differentiates itself from other research on the subject by focusing on the complex interplay between CPTED and fear of crime, specifically in its personal and altruistic dimensions. To achieve this, an online survey was conducted with 232 respondents, utilizing an enhanced version of the Crime Situational Fear Scale (Senna, 2017). The results reveal that the patterns of fear of crime scores observed in international literature are mirrored within the Brazilian context, demonstrating sensitivity to the nuances of CPTED. This research holds theoretical, methodological, and practical implications, offering valuable contributions to the development of public policies centered on the CPTED model, as well as to the physical and mental well-being of the community.

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Author Biographies

Isângelo Senna, Polícia Militar do Distrito Federal

Lieutenant Colonel in the Federal District Military Police and professor at the Higher Institute of Police Sciences (ISCP). He holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in Social Psychology of Work and Organizations from the University of Brasília, a bachelor’s degree in Public Safety from ISCP, and a bachelor’s degree in Law from the Catholic University of Brasília.

Alfredo Amorim Odorico, Polícia Militar do Distrito Federal

Lieutenant Colonel in the Federal District Military Police. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Public Safety from the Higher Institute of Police Sciences (ISCP) and a master’s degree in Criminal Analysis from the Catholic University of Brasília.

Jefferson Menezes Ismail, Polícia Militar do Distrito Federal

Lieutenant Colonel in the Federal District Military Police. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Public Safety from the Higher Institute of Police Sciences (ISCP), a law degree from Euro-American University (UniEuro), and a master’s degree in Learning Management from UniCeub University.

Fabio Iglesias, Universidade de Brasília

Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Brasília, where he serves as Director of Influencia, a laboratory for applied behavioral sciences. He is currently part of the team at the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services, serving as a member of the Federal Government’s Behavioral Insights Team.

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2026-06-01

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SENNA, Isângelo; AMORIM ODORICO, Alfredo; MENEZES ISMAIL, Jefferson; IGLESIAS, Fabio. “NOBODY’S SAFE!”: CPTED effects on personal and altruistic fear of crime. Revista Brasileira de Segurança Pública, [S. l.], v. 20, n. 2, p. 236–259, 2026. DOI: 10.31060/rbsp.2026.v20.n2.2185. Disponível em: https://revista.forumseguranca.org.br/rbsp/article/view/2185. Acesso em: 1 jun. 2026.

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Vol. 20 No. 2 (2026): Revista Brasileira de Segurança Pública 39

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