1. Broken Windows Policing
Akhil Raman
HS4623
Economics 4896
Spring 2013

2. What is Broken Windows?
• A broken window can lead
to decay and disorder,
which in turn leads to
increased criminal activity.
• Simply put-Take care of the
little things and the major
things will take care of
themselves.
• Do not take “Broken
Windows” literally. The
term refers to any signs of
disorder that does not
coincide with community
values.

3. Why do humans commit crimes?
Contrasting Views
Liberal View
• Man is inherently good, no
evil within.
• However, mans’
surroundings have a
powerful influence on him.
• Society's’ inability to
provide basic needs is the
root of criminal activity.
Conservative View
• Man is born with a natural
capacity of good or evil.
• Necessary to build moral
character through family,
religion, and education.
• Individuals have “freedom of
choice” to be criminals.
• Society is not at fault, but,
they need to hold individuals
accountable for crimes.

4. Incarceration-Contrasting Views
Liberal View
• Primary responsibility is the
welfare of the convicted
individuals and their
rehabilitation.
• An emphasis on returning the
criminal to society as early as
possible
• Society is responsible for the
crime, not the criminal.
• Any real punishment of the
crime is barbaric and vengeful
Conservative View
• Primary responsibility is to
society
• Rehabilitation of the criminal
is a large concern, through the
reformation of the criminals
morals and character.
• Jail sentence of the criminal is
necessary to ensure victims of
crime that their loss/suffering
is taken seriously by society.

5. Origins of Broken Windows
Robert Peel (1829)
“ The principal object to be attained is “the prevention
of Crime.” To this great end every effort of the Police
is to be directed. The security of person and property,
the preservation of the public tranquility, and all the
other objects of a Police Establishment, will thus be
better effected, than by the detection and punishment
of the offender, after he has succeeded in committing
the crime.”
Source: Peel, Robert. 1829. Sanction of Establishment of Police. No 8
Augmentation. Home Office

6. Origins of Broken Windows Continued
Jane Jacobs (1961)
“It does not take many incidents of violence to
make people fear the streets. And as they fear
them, they use them less, which makes the
streets still more unsafe.
First, we must understand that the public
peace—the sidewalk and street peace—of
cities is not kept primarily by the police,
necessary though they are. [The public peace]
is kept primarily by an intricate, almost
unconscious, network of voluntary controls
and standards among the people themselves.”
Source: Death of Life of Great American Cities (1961)

7. Origins of Broken Windows Continued
Herman Goldstein and Egon Bittner (1967)
• Police officers should invest in understanding
community, taking time to meet with citizens.
• Law enforcement agencies should engage in ethnically
diversifying.
• There should be a medium of communication between
citizens and police officers outside of regular dispatch.
• A system of police discretion needs to be utilizes. This
will ensure that resources and energy are not wasted
entirely on petty criminals.
.

8. Origins of Broken Windows Continued
Philip Zimbardo (1969)
• Tested Broken Window Theory
• Left two unattended cars with
hoods open, one in the Bronx,
and one in Palo Alto, CA.
• Car in Bronx was attacked within
10 minutes of leaving. It was
completely destroyed.
• Initially, car in Palo Alto was fine.
Until….Zimbardo Smashed it with
a sledgehammer…….Suddenly a
whole mass of individuals joined
in, and the car was utterly
destroyed.
• Comparing Broxn and Palo Alto,
crimes like this can happen
ANYWHERE.

9. James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling
(1982)
• Tagged along with police officers,
because they were mandated to step
outside their vehicles and engage in
foot patrol
• Foot Patrol allowed officers to survey
community more thoroughly than
inside a vehicle
• Think back to Jane Jacobs, doesn’t
take much to frighten citizens.
However, more police officers on foot
made citizens feel “Safer”
• Broken Windows credits “Roots” as
the cause of criminal activity, and
assesses what is the real role of
police officers.
• Broken Windows focuses more on
crime prevention rather than waiting
until crimes occur.

10. Traditional vs. Broken Windows Model
Traditional Policing Model
• Roots and Demographics are
the cause of Criminal Behavior
• Criminals cause crime, which
harm the community
• Community calls 911 for help
• Dispatch alerts nearby police
officers
• Police Officers respond to
crime, and engage in proper
solution to problem.
• No “foot patrol” officers
constantly on the streets.
Broken Windows Policing Model
• Roots and Demographics are
the cause of criminal behavior
• Constant communication
between Police Officers and
Community.
• Community aids in crime
reduction by constantly
keeping eyes on the streets,
reporting suspicious activity.
• Police officers everywhere, on
foot , bikes, vehicles etc.

11. Reduction of Crime in New York City
• From 1990-2000,
burglary, homicide,
robbery, and theft all
declined by 70 percent!
• 2000-2012 crimes fell
an additional 37
percent
• Crimes declined across
the country, however,
NYC at twice the
national average.

12. Mayor Guliani and “get-tough”
• Enacted policy changes,
specifically aggressive
policing of “petty crimes”
• “Obviously, murder and
graffiti are two vastly
different crimes. But they
are part of the same
continuum, and a climate
that tolerates one is more
likely to tolerate the
other.“ –Rudolph Guilliani
(1998)

13. Broken Windows is not the silver bullet
• Broken windows is not a magical solution,
something that will reduce crimes rates
instantly.
• It is a thought process, specifically, problem-
solving and police action
• The main question- How can law enforcement
(police) work with citizens to ensure a safer,
less disorderly environment?

14. Bill Bratton
• Began career with Boston P.D.,
rose quickly through the ranks
• Appointed Chief of Boston P.D.
1991-1993
• As chief of Boston, crimes
reduced
• Appointed NYC Police Chief in
1994
• As chief of NYC, crimes
reduced for the next two years
• Took over LAPD from 2002-
2009, homicides reduced from
654 to 312.

15. Bill Bratton and Broken Windows
• 2006, Bill Bratton credits Broken
Windows (1982) as the source of
his policy makeover.
• Implemented tough, aggressive
stance on low-level crimes in
Boston, New York City, and Los
Angeles.
• Advocated use of police
discretion.
• Recognized for advocating a more
ethnically diverse police force.
To ensure all citizens of the
community were represented
• Recently hired as consultant to
the OAKLAND POLICE
DEPARTMENT!!! (Keep your
fingers crossed)

16. Crimes Reduced in Bay Area
• Many Bay Area cities have
reduced crimes rates in half since
their peak in the 1980’s
• Thirteen of the 15 major Bay Area
cities recorded fewer murders,
assaults, rapes and kidnappings.
• Aforementioned areas have also
reduced petty crimes.
• Proved that crimes can still be
controlled, even with a weakened
economy, which should have led
to increased crime.
• Source:
http://www.fbi.gov/about-
us/cjis/ncic

17. Policies seem to expand Broken
Windows
• Policies implemented by Bay Area
cities similar to Broken Windows
• San Francisco, Santa Clara, Milpitas,
Sunnyvale along with other agencies
are investing heavily into community
involvement
• Many agencies run a “citizens
volunteer program.” Creating a
medium of communication between
regular citizens and police officers.
• Agencies advocating a more
ethnically diverse police force.
• Discretion utilize in regards to
incarceration. More resource and
energy are geared towards
imprisoning violent criminals, not
petty ones.
• Vacation House Checks
• Citizen volunteers patrolling
neighborhoods in unmarked police
vehicles
• Explorers program for youth,
interested in law enforcement.
• Using explorers as “bait” for selling
liquor to underage individuals.
• Neighborhood watch programs for
suspicious behavior
• Source:
http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/govern
ment/police/community_relations.as
p

18. Criticisms of Broken Windows
• Criticism – Broken Windows seems unfair to the
poor?
• Rebuttal- Broken Windows is not about the poor,
its about the community. That being said, the
poor do suffer most from disorder and crime. So,
according to Broken Windows, drawing crime to
the poor can reduce crime everywhere.
• Source:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1
982/03/broken-windows/304465/

19. Criticisms of Broken Windows
(Continued)
• Criticism-Broken Windows sounds similar to
“Zero Tolerance”
• Rebuttal- Broken Windows and Zero Tolerance
are not similar. In fact, Broken Windows
encourages police discretion, contrary to Zero
Tolerance, which punishes any individual for any
crime. Also, Broken Windows utilizes police
officers in a more professional manner, while zero
tolerance makes them look like robots with no
soul.

20. Criticisms of Broken Windows
• Criticism-Agencies have hired more police officers, that
seems like the most logical reason.
• Rebuttal- Might be, however, studies have shown a
positive correlation between numbers and crime. Also,
evidence suggests the elasticity of crimes in relation to
police officers is at around -.2. That is, a 10 percent
increase in police officers only reduces crime rates by 2
percent. In addition, agencies are hiring because of
retirements.
• Source: Bradford, Ben. "Police Numbers and Crime Rates – a Rapid
Evidence Review | Ben Bradford - Academia.edu." Police Numbers
and Crime Rates – a Rapid Evidence Review | Ben Bradford -
Academia.edu. Academia, July 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.

21. Things I can’t contest
• Advancements in crime-fighting technology
• Computerized statistics
• Hot Spots- Putting “cops on the dots”
• Legalized abortion (I’m serious, look up Steven Levitt)
• Crack-cocaine consumption declining from its peak in
1984-1990
• Stricter gun control Laws
• “Graying of America” Baby boomers “Mellowing out”
after reaching the age or 40, and not taking risks by
committing crimes.

22. Works Cited
• Peel, Robert. 1829. Police Patrol to Prevent Crime.
• Jacobs, Jane. 1961. The Death and Life of Great American
Cities. New York: Random House
• Goldstein, Herman. 1963. “Police Discretion: The Ideal
Versus the Real.” Public Administration Review.
• Bittner, Egon. 1967. “The Police on Skid Row.” American
Sociological Review. 32(5):699-715
• Goldstein, Herman. 1979. “Means Over Ends Syndrome”
“Improving Policing: A Problem-Oriented Approach.” Crime
& Delinquency April 1979 Vol. 25(2): 236-258.
• Wilson, James Q., and George L. Kelling. "Broken
Windows." The Manhattan Institute(1982): 1-10. Web.