NCJ Number
202166
Date Published
August 2002
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This document examines the question of whether the "Broken Windows" theory reduces crime.
Abstract
One of the most controversial law enforcement theories is the Broken Windows theory, which states that aggressive targeting of minor crimes can lead to a reduction in more serious crimes down the road. As minor offenses go unpunished, an air of lawlessness can pervade a community and lead to an increase in serious crime. Serious crime can be avoided by aggressively targeting problems of physical (graffiti) and social (prostitution) disorder. Some people have expressed concerns that the tactics endorsed by broken windows law enforcement can lead to harassment of the innocent. This research indicates that broken windows can be an effective tool in reducing serious crime in California counties. A macro-level analysis was conducted of the effects of broken windows law enforcement on serious crime, controlling for other factors linked to crime. The results confirm that vigorous enforcement of laws against minor crimes can help to reduce the future incidence of more serious crimes. More arrests for certain types of low-level misdemeanors can reduce the incidence of certain types of serious property crimes. The results also indicate that if district attorneys prosecute minor offenses more vigorously, a reduction in serious crimes is likely to follow. 2 tables, 14 footnotes, 2 appendices, 63 references