The Broken Windows Theory: A Criminological Perspective Essay

This essay explores the Broken Windows theory, a criminological perspective on urban social order and crime prevention. The theory posits that maintaining and monitoring the urban environment, addressing minor offenses like vandalism and public drinking, can prevent more serious crimes. The essay discusses the theory's importance, highlighting how policies based on it have been adopted in various jurisdictions, including New York City. It examines the implementation of such policies, the impact of visible disorders on crime rates, and the role of community policing. The essay references studies and experiments that support the theory, emphasizing the need for physical and social improvements in neighborhoods to reduce crime. It also includes references from sources such as Pitner, Aiyer, and Braga to support its arguments.

Running head: BROKEN WINDOWS
BROKEN WINDOWS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University
Author Note:

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The essay discusses the theory of Broken Windows approach on urban social order. It
is a criminological theory of indicative of urban disorder as well as vandalism on antisocial
behaviour or crime. The theory of broken window states that by maintaining and monitoring
the urban environment and preventing serious crimes, vandalism, turnstile jumping and
public drinking will be helping in prevailing social peace (Pitner et al. 45). According
to social scientists James Q. Wilsonand and George L. Kelling, this broken window theory
can be used as motivation in some cases of criminal policies.
The nature of the theory reveals that any lack in social control tends to leave the
neighbourhood vulnerable to any anti-social activities like theft and abusing people. The
situation becomes more disturbing when the morality of the neighbourhood degrades more
(Braga et al. 636). It attracts more objectionable crimes like prostitution and drug dealings
then finally murder. Therefore, this theory has many implications in preventing severe crime.
Importance:
Many jurisdictions of America have adopted various policies based on the theory of
broken window. This is directed to prevent crime by keeping building repaired, maintenance
of clean streets and responding immediately to petty crimes. The society can be safe when the
community policing measures are taken. This informal control method can be exercised
through daily relationships as well as institutions have proved to be more effective than any
legal sanctions (Braga et al. 571). Such social yet informal control demonstrates builds a
tough and intolerable attitude against any disorderly conduct in the locality. New York drug
as well as crime decline exemplifies the best implication of this theory.
Information about the issue:
In 1993, the mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani employed Bratton as police
commissioner for implementing similar policies in the city. He took measures against crimes

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that had negative effect on social morality. Enforcing laws against subway fare evasion,
public drinking and urination including graffiti. Arrest of squeegee men who were indulging
in demanding payments in the traffic stops and shutting down acclaimed night places led to
drastic fall in crime in the city.
In Netherlands, during 2007 and 2008, a series of controlled experiments was
conducted to determine and examine whether the effect of existing visible malady
increased crime and antisocial behaviour in the urban locations (Aiyer et al. 141).
This research supported the theory where the researchers found that examples of
social visible disorder can evoke crime.
In Lowell, Massachusetts, the study found that if visible disorders can be removed from the
hot spots of crimes, then antisocial activities will reduce. The authorities cleared trash,
discouraged loiters, enforced building codes which led 20 % reduction in police involvement.
To reduce crime in a particular location, government needs to change its physical as
well as social features. For doing this, all the things that gives a neighbourhood a rundown
condition must be immediately fixed. These can be roads, sidewalks, buildings and
abandoned spaces. Improvement in neighbourhood like enforcement of laws for small crimes
also prevent social disorder. Prosecution for public disorder, jaywalking, begging can focus
on the small issue and prevent crime.

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References:
Pitner, Ronald O., ManSoo Yu, and Edna Brown. "Making neighborhoods safer: Examining
predictors of residents’ concerns about neighborhood safety." Journal of Environmental
Psychology 32.1 (2012): 43-49.
Aiyer, Sophie M., et al. "From broken windows to busy streets: A community empowerment
perspective." Health Education & Behavior 42.2 (2015): 137-147.
Braga, Anthony A., Brandon C. Welsh, and Cory Schnell. "Can policing disorder reduce
crime? A systematic review and meta-analysis." Journal of Research in Crime and
Delinquency 52.4 (2015): 567-588.
Braga, Anthony A., Andrew V. Papachristos, and David M. Hureau. "The effects of hot spots
policing on crime: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis." Justice Quarterly 31.4
(2014): 633-663.