This week we are covering essentially “what works” within special topics under community policing, one of which is neighborhood disorder. Peak and Glensor (2018) briefly cover the link between social and physical disorder and eventual serious crime with Broken Windows Theory, concluding that police should have a strong interest in using problem-solving approaches to address neighborhood disorder as it impacts quality of life and fear of crime.
For this post, we will be taking a deeper look into Broken Windows and how it can (or cannot) be represented in community policing and problem-solving approaches. Broken Windows is perhaps one of the most polarizing theories within policing scholarship. Aside from mixed evidence, there is an additional layer of discussions surrounding the theory that have perhaps incorrect associations with political ideology.
The first reading by Welsh, Braga, and Bruinsma (2015)
https://unlv-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_1690392911&vid=UNLV&search_scope=EVERYTHING&tab=default_tab&context=PC&lang=en_US
introduces a special issue for the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency covering Broken Windows. In this introduction, the authors summarize several articles presented in the issue and cover core concepts of broken windows theory, how research has been extended over the years since its conception (specifically its application to community and problem-solving strategies for addressing disorder), and finally some limitations and future research.
The second reading by Kelling (2015)
https://unlv-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_cdi_crossref_primary_10_1177_0022427815578175&vid=UNLV&search_scope=EVERYTHING&tab=default_tab&context=PC
is the final piece in this special issue, in which Kelling (2015) offers his thoughts on Broken Windows as one of the original authors.
After reading both, and along with your other discussion post options, please consider the following:
1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the theory? Based on the evidence/arguments presented, do you agree that Broken Windows can (or should) be situated within community and problem-oriented policing approaches?
300 words
2. How does the broken window therory make sense to you?
200 words
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