Broken Windows Theory: Mechanisms, Policing, Evidence, and Critiques

All flashcards

What is broken windows theory?

A theory proposing that visible disorder can signal neglect or weak social control and may contribute to further disorder and crime.

Who introduced broken windows theory, and when?

James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling introduced it in their 1982 article “Broken Windows.”

What does a broken window symbolize in the theory?

A social signal that a place may be neglected and rule-breaking may go unchecked.

What is informal social control?

Influence through everyday relationships, shared expectations, and community action rather than solely through formal legal sanctions.

Why are broken windows policies controversial?

Their crime-prevention claims are debated, and enforcement has raised concerns about discretion, fairness, and unequal treatment.

Quiz questions

1. What does collective efficacy refer to in explanations of neighborhood crime?Answer: Resident cohesion combined with shared expectations for controlling public space.
2. What did a 2015 meta-analysis report about disorder-reduction strategies?Answer: Hot spots and problem-oriented policing showed crime reductions, unlike aggressive arrest-focused order maintenance.
3. What did New York City's quality-of-life policing emphasize?Answer: Enforcement of minor offenses such as fare evasion, public drinking, and graffiti.
4. Why does a decline in crime after a policy begins not, by itself, prove the policy caused the decline?Answer: Other trends and social conditions could also have contributed to the change.
5. What concern can arise when “disorder” is defined vaguely in policing?Answer: Broad discretion over whom officers question or remove from public space.