Wilson and Kelling (1982) published an essay titled “Broken Windows: The Police and Neighborhood Safety” in the Atlantic Monthly that brought these issues back into the public limelight as well as to the attention of scholars interested in crime and deviance. Explain the basic premise of this article as it relates to the study of crime and deviance, as well as a brief statement of the policy implication for police.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The authors argued that disorder leads to greater disorder; it also attracts and promotes more serious forms of deviance. The notion is simple to the young man living in an area characterized by graffiti and broken windows: Why not break another window—it is fun and what is the harm? Signs of disorder lead to further disorder. This led to the policy implication that police (and other agents of social control) attack crime at its roots and target minor forms of social disorder deviance that seem to be critical causes of the escalation of crime and further deviance. In other words, focus on less serious forms of deviance, and you may deter more serious forms of crime. This includes, but is not limited to, minor misbehavior (e.g., prostitution, public rowdiness, or drunkenness) and signs of physical disorder (e.g., litter, graffiti, broken windows) and their relationship to crime.