Broken Windows

Introduction to the "Broken Windows" Theory

• Co-authored by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling.

• Originated from a New Jersey program in the 1970s aimed at improving quality of life through foot patrol.

The Implementation of the Foot Patrol

• Safe and Clean Neighborhoods Program: Aimed to improve community life in New Jersey cities.

• Objective: Increase police visibility and engagement through walking beats rather than patrol cars.

• Police reaction: Many police chiefs were skeptical due to perceived limitations of foot patrol, including mobility and effectiveness.

• Officers found foot patrol physically demanding and it was sometimes seen as a punishment assignment.

Evaluation of Foot Patrol Effectiveness

• A study by the Police Foundation five years later indicated:

  • No significant reduction in crime rates.

  • Residents reported feeling safer and believed crime had decreased.

  • Increased positive perceptions of police among residents in foot patrol areas.

• Higher officer morale and job satisfaction were noted in foot patrol assignments.

• Skeptics argued that the improved sense of safety was illusory, but Wilson and Kelling proposed otherwise.

Understanding Public Fear and Disorder

• Crime Fear: Mainly comes from the threat of violent attacks.

• Disorder Fear: Frightened by the presence of disorderly people rather than overt criminals (e.g., panhandlers, drunks).

• Foot patrol helped maintain public order and alleviate this fear.

The Role of Police in Maintaining Order

• Order Maintenance: Officers in Newark were seen maintaining order by enforcing informal community rules:

  • Example patrols showed how officers interacted with both regular and transient street populations.

  • Officers knew the community dynamics and applied informal rules to maintain peace.

• The community's perception of disorder influences their overall safety and behavior.

The Connection Between Disorder and Crime

• Broken Windows Theory: Suggests that visible signs of disorder (like broken windows) lead to increased crime by signaling neglect.

• Philip Zimbardo's experiments illustrated how environments perceived as neglected lead to vandalism.

• Untended properties signal to residents and transients that disorder is tolerated, which can escalate to crime.

• Communities deteriorate when informal social controls break down, leading to fear and avoidance behaviors.

Urban Decay and Police Response

• Urban decay has continually evolved, but modern issues are exacerbated by mobility and disconnection:

  • Perception shifts: Residents believe crime rates are rising due to visible disorder.

  • Surveys show increased anxiety, particularly among vulnerable groups like the elderly.

• Police often struggle to respond effectively under current policing paradigms focused largely on crime fighting rather than order maintaining.

The Shift in Police Responsibility

• Historical context: The police role shifted from maintaining order to enforcing laws against specific crimes, resulting in reduced focus on community engagement.

• Increased challenges in policing relate to how crime-fighting has overshadowed community needs.

• There is a noticeable reduction in the police presence available for proactive order-maintenance tasks.

The Role of Community in Policing

• Community members can effectively contribute to maintaining order through:

  • Citizen patrols and organized groups like the Guardian Angels.

  • Traditional practices of neighborhood watch that deter disorder.

• Balancing police functions requires collaboration between law enforcement and community residents to respond to local needs.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• The traditional view must return to recognizing the police as protectors of community cohesion, not just individual rights.

• The overarching goal should be to maintain intact communities, fostering a sense of safety and order to prevent deterioration.

• Real solutions may involve identifying and reinforcing community standards rather than just responding to individual crimes.