Chapter 3

Question 1

Broken Windows Theory

Answer 1

stated disorder, if left unchecked, causes serious crime. if you fight disorder, you can control crime.

Question 2

who proposed Broken Windows?

Answer 2

Wilson and Kelling in 1982

Question 3

physical disorder

Answer 3

graffiti, garbage, empty lots, vacancy, broken windows

Question 4

social disorder

Answer 4

public drunkenness, loitering, public urination, deviant acts in public, panhandling, obnoxious behavior

Question 5

sequence of events in broken windows?

Answer 5

physical deterioration -> fear, withdrawal from social life ->increased disorderly behavior -> further increases in deterioration -> further withdrawal from streets -> criminals move into neighborhoods

Question 6

is Broken Windows macro or micro?

Answer 6

micro

Question 7

role of the police in Broken Windows

Answer 7

to act proactively, not reactively. should quash every little disorderly thing that happened. called “order maintenance policing” and eventually was meant to pass onto residents

Question 8

Why did this idea catch on?

Answer 8

it gave police a central role in crime control and was easy unlike other convoluted theories, it was published in the Atlantic, which was accessible to all

Question 9

What are the unintended consequences of Broken Windows Policing?

Answer 9

deteriorated police/community relations, some think it’s harassment, aggressive enforcement of low level offenses, targets quality of life crimes, “crackdowns,” disproportionate targeting of minorities and mental illness sufferers

Question 10

Is it supported by research?

Answer 10

no. confuses correlation with causation, disorder and crime can be co-occuring, and it is hard to distinguish between disorder and crime, and not everyone sees disorder the same way