Crime Free Programs · Apartment communities
Crime Free Multi-Housing
The original program that started it all in Mesa, Arizona in 1992.
Overview
About Crime Free Multi-Housing
The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is a state-of-the-art crime prevention program designed to reduce crime, drugs, and gangs on apartment properties. It was developed at the Mesa, Arizona Police Department in 1992 and has since spread to nearly 2,000 cities in 48 U.S. states, 5 Canadian provinces, England, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and beyond.
The program consists of three phases that are completed under the supervision of the local police department. Property managers become individually certified after completing training in each phase, and the property becomes certified upon successful completion of all three phases.
The program begins with the training of law enforcement coordinators who administer the program in their jurisdiction. Each coordinator receives 24 hours of intensive training and becomes a certified instructor. The heart and soul of the program is the correct implementation and use of the Crime Free Lease Addendum.
The three phases
From first class to full certification.
Each phase is completed under the supervision of local law enforcement.
- 01
Management Training
8 hours · taught by the police
- Crime prevention theory
- CPTED theory (physical security)
- Resident screening guidelines
- Lease agreements and eviction issues
- The Crime Free Lease Addendum
- Key control and master key use
- On-going security management
- Gangs, drug activity, and crime prevention
- Legal warnings, notices & evictions
- Working smarter with the police
- Fire and life safety training
- Community awareness
A 100-page resource manual is supplied with additional handouts.
- 02
CPTED Survey
On-site · by the police
- Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) survey
- Minimum door, window, and lock standards inspection
- Minimum exterior lighting standards evaluation
- Key control procedures evaluation
- Landscape maintenance standards compliance
- 03 Certified
Community Awareness
Resident safety social
- Annual crime prevention social hosted by property management and police
- Community awareness and continuous participation is encouraged
Full certification (the gold certificate) grants the right to post the Crime Free Multi-Housing sign and to advertise membership using the official logo. The certificate is renewed annually following compliance with Phases II & III.
Prevention costs less than the alternative.
Why it matters
The cost of drug activity in rental property
When drug criminals and other destructive tenants operate out of rental property, neighborhoods suffer and landlords pay a high price.
- Decline in property values — particularly when the activity begins affecting the reputation of the neighborhood
- Property damage arising from abuse, retaliation, or neglect, and from police raids
- Fire resulting from manufacturing or growing operations
- Civil penalties, including temporary closure of the property — or even property seizure
- Loss of rent during the eviction and repair periods
- Fear and frustration when dealing with dangerous and threatening tenants
- The loss of other valued tenants
Ready to certify your property?
Contact your local Crime Free Coordinator, or train with the association to bring the program to your jurisdiction.