CPTED Assessment.

  A CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) assessment is an evaluation of a physical space to identify vulnerabilities and recommend design changes to deter crime and improve security. It employs principles like natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance to suggest improvements to the environment, including lighting, landscaping, and the placement of physical barriers. The process typically involves reviewing crime data, inspecting the property, and providing a report with actionable recommendations.  

 What a CPTED assessment involves

• Review of crime data: An assessment often begins with reviewing the property's crime history and the surrounding area to identify crime patterns and community concerns.
• Property inspection: A CPTED Practitioner physically inspects the property, assessing how its design relates to CPTED principles.
• Principle-based evaluation: The assessment evaluates the space based on key CPTED principles:
  • Natural surveillance: How well can people see what is happening in the area?
  • Natural access control: How are people's movements guided to limit opportunities for crime?
  • Territorial reinforcement: How are public, semi-public, and private spaces defined to encourage a sense of ownership?
  • Maintenance and management: Is the property well-maintained to reflect community pride and deter disorder?
• Specific evaluations: The inspection may include a detailed assessment of lighting, particularly after dusk, and the visibility of surveillance cameras.
• Reporting and recommendations: A report is provided that identifies strengths and weaknesses and offers specific, customized recommendations for improvements. 

Florida Statute 768.0706, part of HB 837: This law protects multifamily residential property owners. By implementing CPTED measures, owners can limit their liability if residents or others are injured due to criminal acts on the property.

• Defense Against Lawsuits: The primary benefit is that it creates a defense against frivolous lawsuits related to criminal activity, making it harder for claimants to sue property owners for negligence in such situations successfully.
• Conditions for Protection: To be protected under this law, property owners must:
  • Has a law enforcement agency conducted and documented a CPTED assessment of its property?
  • Implement the recommended CPTED measures.

This law offers liability protection for multifamily property owners who have a documented CPTED assessment.  CPTED is a strategic approach to property design that uses environmental elements to reduce crime and improve safety.  

 Florida Statute 768.0706, enacted as part of the 2023 tort reform (HB 837), is a critical piece of legislation for multi-family property owners and managers. It provides a powerful incentive: a presumption against liability for criminal acts committed by third parties on the premises, provided the property is in "substantial compliance" with the statute.