ince days of yore, authorities havecleared trees and shrubbery from

crime-prone areas to eliminate hiding placesfor illicit activity. In 1285, King Edward Idecreed in the Statute of Winchester thathighways be cleared by a width of 200 feeton either side, “...so that no cover formalefactors should be allowed.”1 Seven

centuries later, removing greenery to detercrime is a practice that continues.

In America’s inner cities, crime iswidespread while greenery is scarce. Inurban settings even small patches of greenare oases from harsh surroundings. Theremoval of green where so little exists iskeenly felt.

The information in this bulletin is condensed from “Environment and Crime in the InnerCity: Does Vegetation Reduce Crime?” Environment and Behavior, Volume 33, Number 3(May 2001), pp. 343-367. F.E. Kuo & W.C. Sullivan. Copyright © 2001 Sage Publications, Inc.

For more information on this study, go to www.herl.uiuc.edu or contact the Universityof Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Human-Environment Research Laboratory, 1103 S.Dorner Dr., Urbana, IL 61801, phone (217) 333-1965. This project was supported by theUSDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program on the recommendationof the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council. Grant #01-DG-11244225-292. Findings do not necessarily reflect the views of the USDA Forest Service.

The Human-Environment Research Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a multidisciplinary research laboratory dedicated to studying the relationshipsbetween people and the environments they inhabit. The mission of the lab is to generateinformation about human-environment relationships to guide policy, planning and designof environments. The lab's scientists explore how to create environments in whichindividuals, families and communities flourish, and how to better involve peoplein the design, management and stewardship of their local environments.

Frances E. Kuo and William C. Sullivan, Directors

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is an affirmativeaction, equal opportunity institution.

Vol. 1 No. 2

In an

inner city

neighborhood,

the greener

the residence,

the lower the

crime rate.

SS

Green Streets, Not Mean Streets

Human-Environment Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, www.herl.uiuc.edu

Highly green,lowest crime rate

Somewhat green,moderate crime rate

Barren of green,highest crime rate

Amounts of vegetationand total crimes

1Pluncknett, T.F.T. (1960). Edward I and Criminal Law. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Vegetation May Cut Crime in the Inner City

1103 South Dorner Drive • Urbana, IL 61801-4778www.herl.uiuc.edu

Human-Environment Research Laboratory

Human-Environment Research Laboratory

While some studies haveshown that vegetationis related to crime andfear of crime, a study inan urban neighborhoodsuggests the opposite.University of Illinoisresearchers Frances E.Kuo and William C.Sullivan tested thecommon wisdom thatin the inner city, barrenspaces are safer thangreen ones.

They compared crime rates for inner-cityapartment buildings with varying amountsof vegetation and found that the greenerthe surroundings, the fewer crimesoccurred against people and property. Farfrom shielding criminals, such greeneryseems to shield against them.

Why GreeneryMay Cut CrimeNo studies have been done to determinewhether crime rates are actually higher indensely vegetated areas. Two studies haveshown that criminals use dense vegetationsuch as shrubs, underbrush and densewoods to conceal their activities. Otherstudies have found that dense vegetationin some settings evokes fear and fear ofcrime, especially when it blocks views.However, not all greenery blocks views.

Widely spaced high-canopy trees, flowers,grass and low-growing shrubs do not blockviews, shield crime or create the type ofsurroundings that promote fear. In the innercity, vegetation that allows for visibilityseems to promote safety. Factors combineto explain why this is so.

We’re watching and we care. Greenspaces bring people together outdoors.The conspicuous presence of peopleincreases surveillance, which discouragescriminals. More people outdoors meansthat threatening behavior is more likely to

be observed. At the same time, potentialcriminals sense that they are being noticedand watched. The green and groomedappearance of an apartment building is itselfa cue that residents and owners care abouta property, and watch over it and eachother.

We’re calm. A large body of researchindicates that time spent in nature lessensmental fatigue, inattentiveness, irritabilityand impulsivity—states of mind thatpsychologists recognize as precursors toviolence. Greenery helps people to relaxand renew, reducing aggression andincreasing calm.

About the StudyThe study by Kuo and Sullivan was the firstto use police crime reports to examine therelationship between crime rates andvegetation in the inner city. Analyzed weretwo years of police data on property andviolent crimes for 98 apartment buildingsin a public housing development in Chicago.Buildings included in the study were similarin size, number of residents and amount ofcommon outdoor space. Chicago PoliceDepartment year-end Uniform CrimeReports were analyzed. The reportssummarized the specific crimes that werereported for each address.

Residents were predominantly AfricanAmerican, unemployed and receiving publicassistance. They were generally uninvolvedin landscaping decisions and theirapartments were randomly assigned, so norelationship existed between the residentsand the amount of greenery in the spaceoutside their home.

Aerial and ground-level photos of theresidences’ common outdoor areas wereused to record the amounts of greenery,which were then assessed and rated on ascale ranging from barren to fully coveredby green tree canopy.

Green Streets,Not Mean StreetsCompared with apartment buildings thathad little or no greenery, buildings withhigh levels of greenery had roughly halfas many crimes (48 percent fewerproperty crimes and 56 percent fewerviolent crimes) as buildings with nogreenery. Even buildings with mediumamounts of greenery had 42 percent fewertotal crimes (40 percent fewer propertycrimes and 44 percent fewer violentcrimes). Apartment buildingslandscaped with greenery were clearlyless crime-prone than barren ones.

The results support prior studies that foundthat inner-city residents who live in greensurroundings experience fewer quality-of-life crimes, such as littering and graffiti, aswell as fewer incivilities, such as noisy ordisruptive neighbors. The results are alsoconsistent with prior studies in which peoplereported feeling safer in residential areasthat contained greenery.

“In poor, urban neighborhoods it appearsthat greenery not only creates a betterenvironment, it also creates a saferenvironment,” said Frances E. Kuo, assistantprofessor and co-director of the Human-Environment Research Laboratory at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.“The meanest streets are not the greeneststreets.”

Green spaces are gathering places thatcreate close-knit communities and improvewell-being—and in doing so, they increasesafety. In inner-city neighborhoods, tall treesand open, grassy areas that preserve visibilityare recommended as potential deterrentsto crime.

Residents living in greener surroundings reportlower levels of fear, fewer incivilities and less violentbehavior.

The fewer the number of trees surroundingresidential buildings, the higher the number of

reported crimes.

Greenery helps

people to relax

and renew,

reducing

aggression and

increasing calm.

❑ Think twice before removing trees or greenery for securityreasons. Greenery that preserves visibility may promote safety.

❑ Landscape urban apartment buildings with tall trees, grass,groundcover, low-growing shrubs and flowers. Such spaces uniteneighbors and may inhibit criminals.

❑ Spend time daily in the green outdoors. Doing so helps refreshthe mind, and dissolve anxiety and tension.

❑ Support tree planting and tree care in the inner city. In harshenvironments, a little green goes a long way.

Ideas for Property Owners,City Residents and Public Safety Officers

Ideas for Property Owners,City Residents and Public Safety Officers

While some studies haveshown that vegetationis related to crime andfear of crime, a study inan urban neighborhoodsuggests the opposite.University of Illinoisresearchers Frances E.Kuo and William C.Sullivan tested thecommon wisdom thatin the inner city, barrenspaces are safer thangreen ones.

They compared crime rates for inner-cityapartment buildings with varying amountsof vegetation and found that the greenerthe surroundings, the fewer crimesoccurred against people and property. Farfrom shielding criminals, such greeneryseems to shield against them.

Why GreeneryMay Cut CrimeNo studies have been done to determinewhether crime rates are actually higher indensely vegetated areas. Two studies haveshown that criminals use dense vegetationsuch as shrubs, underbrush and densewoods to conceal their activities. Otherstudies have found that dense vegetationin some settings evokes fear and fear ofcrime, especially when it blocks views.However, not all greenery blocks views.

Widely spaced high-canopy trees, flowers,grass and low-growing shrubs do not blockviews, shield crime or create the type ofsurroundings that promote fear. In the innercity, vegetation that allows for visibilityseems to promote safety. Factors combineto explain why this is so.

We’re watching and we care. Greenspaces bring people together outdoors.The conspicuous presence of peopleincreases surveillance, which discouragescriminals. More people outdoors meansthat threatening behavior is more likely to

be observed. At the same time, potentialcriminals sense that they are being noticedand watched. The green and groomedappearance of an apartment building is itselfa cue that residents and owners care abouta property, and watch over it and eachother.

We’re calm. A large body of researchindicates that time spent in nature lessensmental fatigue, inattentiveness, irritabilityand impulsivity—states of mind thatpsychologists recognize as precursors toviolence. Greenery helps people to relaxand renew, reducing aggression andincreasing calm.

About the StudyThe study by Kuo and Sullivan was the firstto use police crime reports to examine therelationship between crime rates andvegetation in the inner city. Analyzed weretwo years of police data on property andviolent crimes for 98 apartment buildingsin a public housing development in Chicago.Buildings included in the study were similarin size, number of residents and amount ofcommon outdoor space. Chicago PoliceDepartment year-end Uniform CrimeReports were analyzed. The reportssummarized the specific crimes that werereported for each address.

Residents were predominantly AfricanAmerican, unemployed and receiving publicassistance. They were generally uninvolvedin landscaping decisions and theirapartments were randomly assigned, so norelationship existed between the residentsand the amount of greenery in the spaceoutside their home.

Aerial and ground-level photos of theresidences’ common outdoor areas wereused to record the amounts of greenery,which were then assessed and rated on ascale ranging from barren to fully coveredby green tree canopy.

Green Streets,Not Mean StreetsCompared with apartment buildings thathad little or no greenery, buildings withhigh levels of greenery had roughly halfas many crimes (48 percent fewerproperty crimes and 56 percent fewerviolent crimes) as buildings with nogreenery. Even buildings with mediumamounts of greenery had 42 percent fewertotal crimes (40 percent fewer propertycrimes and 44 percent fewer violentcrimes). Apartment buildingslandscaped with greenery were clearlyless crime-prone than barren ones.

The results support prior studies that foundthat inner-city residents who live in greensurroundings experience fewer quality-of-life crimes, such as littering and graffiti, aswell as fewer incivilities, such as noisy ordisruptive neighbors. The results are alsoconsistent with prior studies in which peoplereported feeling safer in residential areasthat contained greenery.

“In poor, urban neighborhoods it appearsthat greenery not only creates a betterenvironment, it also creates a saferenvironment,” said Frances E. Kuo, assistantprofessor and co-director of the Human-Environment Research Laboratory at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.“The meanest streets are not the greeneststreets.”

Green spaces are gathering places thatcreate close-knit communities and improvewell-being—and in doing so, they increasesafety. In inner-city neighborhoods, tall treesand open, grassy areas that preserve visibilityare recommended as potential deterrentsto crime.

Residents living in greener surroundings reportlower levels of fear, fewer incivilities and less violentbehavior.

The fewer the number of trees surroundingresidential buildings, the higher the number of

reported crimes.

Greenery helps

people to relax

and renew,

reducing

aggression and

increasing calm.

❑ Think twice before removing trees or greenery for securityreasons. Greenery that preserves visibility may promote safety.

❑ Landscape urban apartment buildings with tall trees, grass,groundcover, low-growing shrubs and flowers. Such spaces uniteneighbors and may inhibit criminals.

❑ Spend time daily in the green outdoors. Doing so helps refreshthe mind, and dissolve anxiety and tension.

❑ Support tree planting and tree care in the inner city. In harshenvironments, a little green goes a long way.

Ideas for Property Owners,City Residents and Public Safety Officers

Ideas for Property Owners,City Residents and Public Safety Officers

ince days of yore, authorities havecleared trees and shrubbery from

crime-prone areas to eliminate hiding placesfor illicit activity. In 1285, King Edward Idecreed in the Statute of Winchester thathighways be cleared by a width of 200 feeton either side, “...so that no cover formalefactors should be allowed.”1 Seven

centuries later, removing greenery to detercrime is a practice that continues.

In America’s inner cities, crime iswidespread while greenery is scarce. Inurban settings even small patches of greenare oases from harsh surroundings. Theremoval of green where so little exists iskeenly felt.

The information in this bulletin is condensed from “Environment and Crime in the InnerCity: Does Vegetation Reduce Crime?” Environment and Behavior, Volume 33, Number 3(May 2001), pp. 343-367. F.E. Kuo & W.C. Sullivan. Copyright © 2001 Sage Publications, Inc.

For more information on this study, go to www.herl.uiuc.edu or contact the Universityof Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Human-Environment Research Laboratory, 1103 S.Dorner Dr., Urbana, IL 61801, phone (217) 333-1965. This project was supported by theUSDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program on the recommendationof the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council. Grant #01-DG-11244225-292. Findings do not necessarily reflect the views of the USDA Forest Service.

The Human-Environment Research Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a multidisciplinary research laboratory dedicated to studying the relationshipsbetween people and the environments they inhabit. The mission of the lab is to generateinformation about human-environment relationships to guide policy, planning and designof environments. The lab's scientists explore how to create environments in whichindividuals, families and communities flourish, and how to better involve peoplein the design, management and stewardship of their local environments.

Frances E. Kuo and William C. Sullivan, Directors

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is an affirmativeaction, equal opportunity institution.

Vol. 1 No. 2

In an

inner city

neighborhood,

the greener

the residence,

the lower the

crime rate.

SS

Green Streets, Not Mean Streets

Human-Environment Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, www.herl.uiuc.edu

Highly green,lowest crime rate

Somewhat green,moderate crime rate

Barren of green,highest crime rate

Amounts of vegetationand total crimes

1Pluncknett, T.F.T. (1960). Edward I and Criminal Law. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Vegetation May Cut Crime in the Inner City

1103 South Dorner Drive • Urbana, IL 61801-4778www.herl.uiuc.edu

Human-Environment Research Laboratory

Human-Environment Research Laboratory