Crime and Justice Atlas

How Justice Is Served
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Criminology Theories and Schools

Broken Windows Theory

Classical, Rational Choice and Opportunity Theories

A theory introduced in 1982 by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling holding that visible signs of disorder and low-level crime create an environment that encourages further crime, including serious offenses. Later research found the relationship between disorder and serious crime modest and largely attributable to underlying social and economic factors rather than physical disorder itself. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Core ClaimSourced to the subject's own account
Visible disorder, such as broken windows left unrepaired, signals an absence of social control and encourages further disorder and crime. 1
Origin YearSourced to the subject's own account
1982 1
Standing CritiqueSourced to the subject's own account
Later research found the link between visible disorder and serious crime modest, and largely explained by underlying social and economic conditions rather than physical disorder itself. 1
Connections

Associated With

Community policing and broken windows policing are frequently paired in policing-strategy literature as complementary order-maintenance approaches.

Source Wikipedia: Community Policing
Fare Evasion, Offenses
Source Wikipedia: Broken Windows Theory
Vandalism, Offenses
Source Wikipedia: Broken Windows Theory

Implemented broken windows theory as order-maintenance policing during his first NYPD tenure (1994-1996) under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; not one of the theory's original academic authors.

Source Wikipedia: William Bratton

Developed By

Source Wikipedia: George L. Kelling
Source Wikipedia: Broken Windows Theory

Used In

NYPD Commissioner William Bratton's 1990s enforcement program applying broken windows theory to low-level disorder offenses.

Source Wikipedia: New York City Police Department
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Broken Windows Theory
  • Lead section
    Visible signs of crime, antisocial behavior and civil disorder create an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder.
  • Developed By: James Q. Wilson
  • Associated With: Vandalism, Broken windows policing / Bratton era section
    Bratton directed beat officers to more strictly enforce laws against petty offenses like subway fare evasion, public drinking, public urination, and graffiti.
  • Associated With: Fare Evasion, Broken windows policing / Bratton era section
    Bratton directed beat officers to more strictly enforce laws against petty offenses like subway fare evasion, public drinking, public urination, and graffiti.
  • In Group: Opportunity, Environmental and Situational Prevention Theories, Lead
    visible signs of crime, antisocial behavior and civil disorder create an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder
View the Source
Wikipedia: Community Policing
Associated With: Community Policing, Lead sectionView the Source
Wikipedia: William Bratton
Associated With: William Bratton, New York City, first tenure section
Quote, Associated With: William Bratton, New York City, first tenure section
He cooperated with Giuliani in putting the controversial broken windows theory into practice
View the Source
Wikipedia: George L. Kelling
Developed By: George L. Kelling, Biography section
Quote, Developed By: George L. Kelling, Biography section
The author of numerous articles, he developed the broken windows theory with James Q. Wilson and Kelling's wife, Catherine M. Coles
View the Source
Wikipedia: New York City Police Department
WikipediaUsed In: New York City Police Department, Broken windows policing / Bratton era section
Quote, Used In: New York City Police Department, Broken windows policing / Bratton era section
Bratton directed beat officers to more strictly enforce laws against petty offenses like subway fare evasion, public drinking, public urination, and graffiti.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.