Broken Windows Theory (BWT) - Part II (see Part I)
In the Winter 2007 Advocate, we introduced a multi-segment review of the important criminal justice theory, Broken Windows Theory (BWT). Today we very quickly review the BWT and report on one major book that offers an overview of the changes (order maintenance interventions or arrests in New York and several other cites) that followed the original article in 1982. In a final installment we will look at the very recent books, since 2000, and easy to access journal articles.
A short 1982 article on BWT served as the foundation for the ‘order maintenance’ policing strategy implemented in New York City by Major Rudolph Giuliani and his police commissioner. The policy, also known as the ‘quality of life initiative’ called for aggressive enforcement of misdemeanor offenses previously ignored or dealt with on the streets in a ‘catch and release’ fashion. The theory postulated that big crimes grow out of disorder and smaller crimes. So based on the BWT ideas, the order of the day became ‘get tough’ and the inner city criminal justice net widened. Kids and adults in subways and streets were rounded up for loitering, public urination, public drunkenness, graffiti, curfew violations and panhandling and were kept in custody for hours, if not longer. The Broken Windows article and the subsequent Giuliani and Bratton article, Police Strategy #5: Reclaiming the Public Spaces of New York, contributed vastly to the increase in the number of incarnated individuals over the past two decades. Could the implementation of this theory have lead to the decreased rates of crime in many cities in the past two decades?
One of the major books published a decade after the original writings and changes in urban community policing and order maintenance policing was written by one of the original New York authors, George Kelling. Fixing Broken Windows: Restoring Order & Reducing Crime, 1996, is a 319-page book that tells stories of policing, order maintenance, and change through the lenses of BWT in many United States cities. The book is well worth reading – not too academic or too political. Kelling, long associated with the NY City Transit Police and consultant to other urban police departments, knows and shares the topic as a true believer. The book briefly acknowledges the criticisms (and there are many) which were beginning to be heard by 1996 related to over zealous policing and even police abuse. The author notes the importance of police ‘common sense’ in not arresting every beggar or petty law breaker in order to insure environmental order and reduce more serious crime and disorder. The book praises the law enforcement community for ‘taking back the subways’ and ‘taking back the streets.’ The book firmly supports community policing, quality of life policing over what was previously police response to crimes committed, or ‘911’ policing as it was know prior to September 11. This may be the best early writing on the topic. Kelling and Coles tell why other means of policing fail and why a “new paradigm of community based policing, and even community based prosecution and probation” is the way to best manage and protect citizens. You may find this one at the local public library.
As you reflect on the BWT, consider whether or not you live in or near a jurisdiction that practices low tolerance? Is your juvenile CSU diversion rate 12% or 15 % below your states DJJ or DJS average? Ponder BWT (mostly applied to urban areas) research as you look at overall criminal justice policy and practice. Is there any benefit in knowing what the latest BWT research tells us as we consider diversion (screening) rates, felony vs. misdemeanor petitions, or other macro or micro policy decisions? Who knows, someone in your facility or offices may want to present a staff development hour just on BWT. In the near future we will examine the latest books (Illusion of Order, 2001 and a very research heavy 400-page book on Baltimore, Breaking Away from Broken Windows). We will also quickly examine the 2005 University of Chicago journal article, Carrots, Sticks and Broken Windows. We will need to examine the criticisms of BWT and the many other reasons cited for reduction in crime over the decades where BWT-based law enforcement became commonplace.
(Eric Assur is employed by the 17th Court Service Unit in Arlington. Suggestions for future book reviews can be sent to bookem@vjja.org.)
