Safeguard Strategy Crime Prevention Consultants

04/07/2026

Looking forward to attending the RHI Sociable City Summit in Nashville — the perfect city for conversations about entertainment, nightlife, safety, security, and the economic vitality of social districts.

Nashville’s Broadway district is often compared to Austin’s Sixth Street, and we’re excited to experience it through a CPTED lens: lighting, visibility, crowd flow, activation, and ambassador programs. Both cities are evolving fast, and comparing their entertainment districts helps us understand what’s working and where intentional design can make the biggest impact.

To our Nashville and Austin communities — we’d love your insight:

• What do you appreciate most about Broadway or Sixth Street
• What safety or hospitality features stand out
• And Nashville locals — where should we visit while we’re in town? Any must‑see spots beyond Broadway

We’re ready to learn, collaborate, and bring back strategies that support safer, more vibrant entertainment districts everywhere.

Nashville Mayor’s Office of Nightlife

The Mayor’s Office of Nightlife is thrilled to host the 2026 Responsible Hospitality Institute Sociable City Summit in Nashville, April 12-14! We can’t wait to welcome leaders, innovators, and hospitality partners from near and far for an energizing few days of ideas, connection, and celebration of what makes our city shine.

04/03/2026

What a fantastic night with ASIS Austin Chapter 179 at the historic Paramount Theatre in Austin, Tx.

We gathered for a special screening of "Women in Security," and the experience was nothing short of empowering. Witnessing the history of women leading the industry with such passion, commitment, and dedication to building safer communities was incredibly moving.

We were thrilled to see Diane Gallatin recognized for the inspiring work she does in our industry.
Congratulations!!

Our President, Joell McNew was honored to be recognized by the phenomenal Chapter leadership for her work and passion in and public safety. Having her intern there to share the surprise made the moment even more special!

Huge thank you to the ASIS Austin leadership for an unforgettable event and for your tireless support of our professional community.

ASIS Austin Chapter 179 International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators

04/02/2026

🚀 With all the excitement around the recent mission to Mars…(INCREDIBLE!!)

It’s a good reminder that not every mission requires a rocket.

At Safeguard Strategy, we believe CPTED—Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design—may not be rocket science, but the passion behind it is every bit as powerful.

Across schools, businesses, multifamily-apartment housing, entertainment districts, and neighborhoods, CPTED practitioners work every day to:

Strengthen safety

Improve quality of life

Build environments where people feel connected and supported

We may not be launching spacecraft, but we are helping shape communities where people can thrive. And that’s a mission we’re proud to champion.

What drives you—not to the moon, but to create positive change right here on Earth?

03/27/2026

Designing Safer, More Vibrant Entertainment Districts Through CPTED

As cities continue to invest in vibrant nighttime economies, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) offers a practical, proven framework to elevate safety and enhance the overall guest experience.

Check out our latest blog discussing how intentional design, clear sightlines, activated public areas, and collaborative planning across businesses, planners, first responders, and district stakeholders can reduce fear of crime and strengthen community vitality.

Every great city has a place where people naturally gather — the blocks filled with music, food, nightlife, and energy. These entertainment districts are where communities come alive. But vibrant nightlife also comes with unique challenges, and keeping these areas safe, welcoming, and economically...

03/25/2026

College Search Season Is Here — That includes taking a deep dive into off-campus student housing.

When exploring colleges, the campus tour is only half the story. For many students, off‑campus housing becomes home—and that’s where parents’ biggest concerns often surface, especially around safety, security, and the surrounding community.

Our latest blog walks you through what to look for when touring off‑campus student housing: from neighborhood conditions and lighting to building access, transportation routes, and overall safety indicators. It’s a practical guide designed to help families make confident decisions and a valuable resource for students, parents, counselors, PTO/PTA groups, and anyone supporting current and future college students.

Learn more, https://www.safeguardstrategy.com/post/higher-education-off-campus-student-housing-property-tours

Choosing off‑campus housing is one of the biggest decisions students and their families make each year. Yet too often, the process is rushed, based on photos, online listings, or assumptions about the neighborhood. What gets missed? The most important step of all: a thorough, in‑person property ...

03/25/2026

We’re proud to take part in this Austin Police Department grant project collaborating with local youth to establish a recruiting model that includes Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.

Thank you Bhavya, a Vandegrift High School student for being a change maker!

Texas School Safety Center US CPTED Association KXAN News CBS Austin FOX 7 Austin KVUE

USCA 2026 Presenter Spotlight

Joell McNew
Bhavya Krishnan

Austin COPS Youth-Led Recruiting Model Project

This session demonstrated how CPTED can be integrated into youth leadership, recruiting, and prevention-based public safety education.

From summer camps to high school clubs, elective courses, competitions, and the Bridge Academy, CPTED principles are applied continuously:

• Youth-led safety audits and site observations
• Lighting, visibility, and movement pattern mapping
• Environmental risk assessments
• Community impact competitions guided by CPTED
• Service projects focused on real-world prevention

Students are not just learning about public safety — they are actively evaluating environments, proposing design improvements, and developing prevention-first thinking.

This model shows how CPTED can become part of the pipeline — shaping future public safety professionals before they enter the field.

Designing Safe Spaces & Strong Communities starts early.

03/20/2026

Let’s Talk About Safety — And Solutions

If you scroll through social media like Facebook & Nextdoor, you’ll see plenty of posts about crime. But how often do you see neighbors sharing solutions… or connecting with each other to make our community safer?

It’s time to shift the conversation.
It’s time to take action together.

Start at Home
Small changes around your home can make a big impact:

Improve lighting around entry points.

Trim landscaping to increase visibility with shrubs not taller than 3 feet and tree limbs no lower than 7 feet to maintain visibility.

Use clear sightlines to your driveway, porch, and pathways.

Maintain your property to signal ownership and care.

These are simple CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles—and they work.

Support Your Neighbors.
Safety grows when we do it collectively.

Share what’s working at your home.
Offer to help a neighbor improve lighting or visibility.
Start a conversation about proactive safety—not just reactive posts
Encourage community walk-throughs or meetups.

Learn CPTED. Implement CPTED.

CPTED isn’t complicated—it’s practical, proactive, and proven.
When neighbors understand it, they can apply it.
When communities apply it, they thrive.

Let’s move beyond sharing crime on social media and start building solutions.

Let’s look out for each other, learn together, and create a safer, stronger community—one home at a time.

Got CPTED?
Now’s the perfect time to learn, www.safeguardstrategy.com

03/17/2026

🍀 Stay Safe While You Celebrate! 🍀

Heading out for St. Paddy’s?

Use these CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) tips to keep your night lucky and safe:

Natural Surveillance: Stay in well-lit areas where you can see and be seen. Avoid dark alleys or "shortcuts" between bars & pubs.

Territorial Reinforcement: Stick to the main event! Stay within the designated areas of the bar or festival where security and staff are present.

Access Control: Keep an eye on your exits. Know exactly how you’re getting home before the first pint—whether it’s a rideshare or a designated driver.

Natural Access: Stick with your "tribe." Moving in a group is the best way to manage who has access to your personal space.

Have a fun and safe St. Patrick’s Night!☘️

03/16/2026

The beauty of and intentional design.

These thin information towers in the village of Aÿ-Champagne, France, are excellent examples of how interactive art and wayfinding serve as functional CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) tools.

By celebrating the local Art Deco history—a style born in the 1920s that redefined French architecture through geometric order and modern elegance—these towers do more than just educate; they actively secure the environment.

Why This Works for CPTED:

Natural Surveillance:
By inviting pedestrians to stop and scan a QR code, the towers increase "eyes on the street" and encourage positive activity in public spaces, which naturally deters crime.

Territorial Reinforcement: Sharing the specific Art Deco history of Aÿ-Champagne fosters community pride and clearly defines the space as "cared for" and monitored.

Safe Wayfinding: Strategically placed signage helps visitors navigate efficiently, reducing the vulnerability that comes with being lost or wandering into isolated areas.

03/12/2026

Celebrating a Decade of Dedication: Our President, Joell McNew, Recognized for Public Safety Leadership.

We are incredibly proud to announce that our President, Joell McNew, has been named the 2026 KXAN News Remarkable Woman for Austin and Central Texas.

This prestigious honour follows her recent trip to Nashville, with 125 remarkable women winners from across the country where she was also awarded the first national Public Safety Award presented by host Leeza Gibbons from Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

These awards recognize Joell’s ten years of unwavering volunteer service as President of SafeHorns. What began as a grassroots effort by concerned parents at the University of Texas at Austin has, under her leadership, become a national model for campus and community safety.

Joell’s journey—from advocating through implementation of better lighting in the campus community to advocating for standardizing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles—is what inspired her to found Safeguard Strategy Crime Prevention Consultants.

Her professional mission is a direct extension of the change she worked to create as a volunteer: empowering educational institutions, businesses, multifamily housing and communities with evidence-based safety strategies.

While we celebrate these milestones, the work of SafeHorns continues. As a 501c3 nonprofit powered entirely by volunteers, they rely on community support to maintain vital resources like "SafeHorns Place".

Join us in supporting their mission!
Donate: Help sustain their advocacy by donating via GivingGrid at www.SafeHorns.org
Zelle: [email protected]
Venmo:

Learn More: Visit www.SafeHorns.org to see how they are taking "Safety by the Horns".

Congratulations, Joell, on a decade of impactful service and these well-deserved honours!

Texas School Safety Center International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators US CPTED Association The University of Texas at Austin Texas Apartment Association City of Austin Government Austin Apartment Association Texas Crime Prevention Association

02/23/2026

Youth Leadership + Collaboration=Positive Change. Good stuff! Austin Police Department US CPTED Association

In early February 2026, Bhavya Krishnan, youth leader, Junior at Vandegrift High School, and lead participant in the Summer 2025 APD COPS Youth-Led Recruiting Project, co-presented alongside Joell McNew – President of Safeguard Strategy Crime Prevention Consultants, President of SafeHorns, Certified Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Practitioner, and Board Director of the U.S. CPTED Association, at the U.S. CPTED Association Conference in Dallas, Texas.

CPTED emphasizes the power of thoughtful urban and architectural design to enhance safety, reduce crime, and improve overall quality of life.

Bhavya and Joell’s presentation outlined the essential role of youth insight in shaping safer, more resilient communities. They showed what collaborative forward-thinking crime prevention truly looks like by integrating CPTED strategies with youth-driven innovation.

Thank you both for all of your hard work and leadership!