Florida CPTED Practitioner
Our team can help guide you to Initial & Ongoing Compliance with Florida Statute 768.0706
Multi-Family Property Security Requirements
Apartment – Condo – Nursing – Assisted Living – Retirement – Time-Share
Charles M Johnson, PSP, FCP and CEO & Founder of NGA Security Advisors, has over 30+ years of Security & Consulting experience working with clients from various verticals such as Government, Critical Infrastructure, Commercial Real Estate, Education and Entertainment & Gaming. He and his team of Florida CPTED Practitioners can provide you with guidance and support as it pertains to Florida Statute 768.0706. Signed into law in March 2023, it is also known as FL HB 837 or Florida Statute 768.0706
This legislation has significantly altered the landscape of personal injury claims against Multi-Family Property Owners & Management Companies in Florida as it aims to reform the state’s tort laws to protect businesses from excessive lawsuits and stabilize the insurance market. However, for a “Presumption Against Liability” the Multi-Family Properties are required to take action to meet compliance requirements. NGA Security Advisors brings our extensive Security Industry expertise, Board Certification in Physical Security and required designation from the Florida Office of Attorney General as well as our deep knowledge of FS 768.0706 to guide you to initial compliance & ongoing/recurring compliance. The process for compliance is as follows:
In addition to Florida, we also provide CPTED assessments in other states, helping property owners meet security and compliance standards nationwide.
Definition
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Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a proactive approach to reducing crime and improving safety by shaping the physical environment. Instead of relying only on guards, alarms, or cameras, CPTED focuses on how spaces are planned, designed, and managed to naturally discourage criminal behavior and promote a sense of security.
History
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Early Foundations (1960s–1970s)
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The roots of CPTED trace back to urban planning and criminology in the 1960s.
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Jane Jacobs (1961) in The Death and Life of Great American Cities argued that “eyes on the street” — natural surveillance from active, engaged communities — was key to reducing crime.
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Elizabeth Wood (1960s), a housing authority administrator in Chicago, emphasized the importance of design in shaping safe public housing.
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C. Ray Jeffery (1971) formally coined the term CPTED, publishing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. He proposed that the built environment could be structured to influence behavior and reduce opportunities for crime.
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Practical Development (1970s–1980s)
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While Jeffery’s theory was groundbreaking, it was Oscar Newman’s work that brought CPTED into practical use.
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Oscar Newman (1972) published Defensible Space: Crime Prevention Through Urban Design, focusing on how architecture and layout could foster territoriality and resident control over space.
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This era emphasized natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, and access control — principles still central to CPTED today.
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Expansion & Institutional Adoption (1980s–1990s)
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CPTED gained traction in law enforcement, urban planning, and security consulting, especially as cities faced rising crime.
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In the U.S., Canada, and Australia, police departments and municipalities began integrating CPTED strategies into planning, zoning, and crime prevention programs.
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By the 1990s, CPTED was recognized internationally and taught in crime prevention and security curricula.
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Modern Evolution (2000s–Present)
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CPTED has expanded beyond physical design to include second-generation CPTED, which emphasizes social cohesion, community culture, and long-term sustainability.
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Today, CPTED is applied in schools, hospitals, corporate campuses, transportation hubs, and residential communities.
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Standards and certifications (such as Florida’s FCP designation) formalize CPTED practice, making it a structured part of security consulting and crime prevention strategies.
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What is CPTED?
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Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a strategy to reduce crime and improve safety by modifying the physical environment. Developed in the 1970s by criminologist C. Ray Jeffrey and architect Oscar Newman, CPTED focuses on five core principles:
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Natural Surveillance enhances visibility by designing spaces to allow people to see and be seen, deterring potential offenders through the increased risk of detection.
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Natural Access Control uses design elements like entrances, exits, and landscaping to limit access and clearly define public and private spaces, complementing security measures.
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Territorial Reinforcement defines spaces to create a sense of ownership, making it easier to identify intruders and encouraging property owners to monitor and report suspicious activity.
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Social Management promotes positive interactions through community engagement and collaboration among planners, law enforcement, and local stakeholders.
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Maintenance ensures the environment is well-kept, signaling ownership and discouraging disorder, as seen in the Broken Window Theory.​​​​​​​
