The Broken Windows, Zero Tolerance, And Problem Oriented Policing

Zero Tolerance improves the standard of policing. It reduces corruption and racist treatment because the individual officers are not given the scope to decide their actions on a case by case basis. Their response is set and therefore cannot be changed by a personal whim. It also reduces the kind of gung-ho policing that is increasingly common. It takes officers out of their cars and places them back into the community where they have contact with individuals. Chases and shootouts actually become less common under zero tolerance (Dennis, page 37)

In the article, “Is Broken Windows a Broken Theory of Crime?” Kevin Drum defines the Broken Windows theory as a theory which “suggests that tolerance of small acts of disorder creates an environment that leads to rising amounts of serious crime. So if police crack down on small offenses – petty vandalism, public lewdness, etc. – crime reductions will follow” Though this theory has been around for a long time, it is still not a sound theory of crime.

The broken windows model of policing was first described in 1982 by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling. Briefly. In 1993, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani adopted the Broken Windows Theory and implemented a community-policing strategy focused on order

The article “Report suggests NYPD’s ‘broken windows’ policing doesn’t work” discusses the study and report put together by the Department of Investigation that states that the extensive policing of low-level misdemeanors had no effect on the amount of felony crime. Furthermore, this study also found that broken windows policing also disproportionately impacts minority populations as black, Hispanic, and impoverished communities had much higher rates of misdemeanor arrests and court summonses than white communities.

New York City during the 1990s has experience crime rates dropping dramatically under Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton lead. Both began new approach to policing by developing several new strategies under the proponent of “broken windows” theory. Under Bratton, the NYPD began to enforce statutes aimed at curbing “quality of life” offense, offenses that are minor and were overlooked in the past in favor to concentrate on serious crimes. Under the Broken Windows theory, small crimes leads to bigger crimes so taking a stance against the minor behavior sends a signal to the community that any kind of law breaking would not be tolerated. Community policing program was adopted in a minor form as police officials focused their

“Broken Windows” policing drives crime rates down. When the New York City Police Department employed this policy, “murders decreased 19 percent and car thefts fell by 15 percent in the first year” (Noble 2016).

One pointed out in the article is the broken windows theory. This was a theory identified and brought to urban police departments in 1982. It became popular fast. The idea behind it is that if a symbol of disorder, such as a broken window, in a neighborhood is not dealt with, it invites the criminal or disorderly element into the area to cause further harm and mayhem. The author points out that the popularity of such a theory, while seemingly effective, brought negative impacts to neighborhoods by keeping the minor offenders on a path of recidivism. According to the author, this would in turn create an “impoverished society.” Causing people to be unable to achieve employment or maintain an honorable position in society. The idea of a person causing disorder became the focus, giving way to an increase in the arrest of the homeless or mentally ill, and an even further increase in the arrest of

Submitted to the Coordinating Group of: _X Crime and Justice __ Education __ Social Welfare __ Other Plans to co-register: _X No __ Yes __ Cochrane __ Other __ Maybe TITLE OF THE REVIEW Broken Windows Policing to Reduce Crime in Neighborhoods BACKGROUND Briefly describe and define the problem Crime policy scholars, primarily James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, and practitioners, such as Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton, have argued for years that when police pay attention to minor offenses—such as aggressive panhandling, prostitution, and graffiti—they can reduce fear, strengthen communities, and prevent serious crime (Bratton

The basic elements of the policy include greater accountability of police people, better use of information, more assertion and tighter policing can easily be applied to Melbourne’s CBD – but whether our society should apply it is another matter altogether. It cannot be confirmed that zero tolerance was the one and only catalyst for the drop in crime in New York commencing back in1998. According to an article written by Dr. David Brereton, it was actually due to “a complex set of factors including population change, economic and demographic factors such as unpredicted commercial growth with jobs for young people and shift in the use of crack to other drugs” during this time frame. Furthermore, it should also be recognized that New York was already seeing a gradual decline of crimes before the policy was even introduced, as well as in other major US cities without the zero tolerance

“Broken Windows” by Wilson and Kelling is a seminal work in the study of Criminal Justice. Starting off, the effectiveness and outcomes of implementing foot patrols was discussed. Foot patrols were found to not decrease crime, but did increase citizen’s favorable opinions on the police and perceived level of safety.

Most school districts these days have initiated Zero Tolerance Policies against a variety of different substances, items, and actions. These include anything from drugs and alcohol to weapons and bullying. In this specific incident a New Jersey School District’s Zero Tolerance Policy derailed a third grade classroom party and traumatized a nine year old boy. In May, the school along with the local police and the county prosecution office agreed that incidents would now be turned over to the police. The Superintendent of the New Jersey School District estimated that police officers may have been called in about five times per day to handle issues in the school of just under two thousand students (Platoff, 2016). At the end of the school year,

The Broken Windows Theory was developed by James Wilson and George Kelling in 1982, the theory purposes that individuals involved in crime may be victims of their environment, lacking social control these environments are overtaken by criminal activity causing the people that are associated with the area to adjust to their surroundings which often involves looking the other way when criminal activity occurs. The theory focuses on deterioration of property such as neglected buildings, homes and neighborhoods, implying that neglect in these areas promotes vandalism, crime and delinquency. Moreover, the disorder associated with run down areas can generate and sustains serious crime and the people that are forced to live in these crimes invested areas often feel helpless and withdrawn. Not knowing whom to trust can create social divide which allows serious crimes to go undetected in that people are too afraid to report them. (Schmalleger, 2015, p.159) One implication of the Broken Window theory is “Criminology of Place” which uses the Broken Window Theory to help with identifying crime, also called environmental criminology it builds on the routine activities theory and situational crime prevention ideas such as crime "Hotspots" that are found in neighborhoods and city streets. A study conducted by the University of Chicago examined crime "hotspots"

As stated before, Zero Tolerance is a policy of major petty crime crackdowns, in hopes of creating an immediate better

The broken windows theory is a criminological theory that if a neighborhood looks rotten then the more trouble it welcomes. In 1982, George L. Kelling and James Q. Wilson released an article focusing on the importance of the disorder. This theory is strongly attached to the African- American community. An area that shows a low population of existences states that fear or crime related situations caused the massive egress of residents. The lack of people to care for a community results into buildings looking forgotten. Therefore, broken windows appearance is a great way for convicts to hide because no one would go near a place that comes into view as spine-chilling. In additions, this produces a high risk of anxiety for African -American males believe that any moment a police officer can stop, question, and frisk them out of anticipation.

Conversely, the broken windows theory is an academic theory that was proposed by James Q. Wilson and George Kelling in 1982. The theory used broken windows as a metaphor for discombobulation. Linking disorder and incivility throughout a community to