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Title: TRANSIT SECURITY: KEEPING PERCEPTIONS IN PERSPECTIVE
Accession Number: 00716787
Record Type: Component
Availability: Find a library where document is available Abstract: The bombings at the New York Trade Center and in Oklahoma have served notice to transit security administrators that terrorism in the United States is a reality. Many transit commuters may argue that they currently experience "domestic terrorism" in the form of antisocial behavior demonstrated on our transit systems. Transit police/security administrators recognize that various social problems are brought into the transit environment from the community. A workshop on transit security was held in Oakland, California, in 1992. Participants included transit police/security administrators, representatives of social agencies involved in community problems, and academics who provided information regarding the social problems. The four major topics were transit effectiveness in addressing intergenerational, ethnic, and cultural conflicts; in working with the larger community to maintain safe and drug-free environments; in alleviating the problem of homelessness; and, finally, how order and cleanliness contribute to a safe and civil transit environment. Many of the problems occurring on transit are not crimes but may be considered infractions, which result in a police/security action being taken. Therefore, the perception of crime on transit may appear to be greater than it actually is. The definition of transit crime continues to be debated among transit police/security administrators. Some argue that a crime is a crime regardless of where it occurs and others rationalize that a crime on transit is unique because of the confined environment. Regardless of the definition, the victims and commuters who use the system are directly affected by their perception of the transit environment. The problem facing transit police/security administrators is how to provide the public with a commuter quality environment. The approach to reducing criminal and social problems on transit must include the community where these problems originate. Law enforcement alone cannot abate the problems.
Supplemental Notes: Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Monograph Title: Monograph Accession #: 00716757
Language: English
Corporate Authors: Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Authors: Rumford, W BPagination: p. 263-270
Publication Date: 1995
Conference:
Seventh National Conference on Light Rail Transit: Building on Success--Learning from Experience
Location:
Baltimore, Maryland ISBN: 0309061520
Media Type: Digital/other
TRT Terms: Old TRIS Terms: Subject Areas: Highways; Public Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Society
Files: TRIS, TRB
Created Date: Jan 30 1996 12:00AM
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