NCJ Number
169608
Date Published
1997
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This discussion of criminal justice policies and the police role in crime prevention explains the "broken windows" metaphor derived from the author's 1982 article, and concludes that distortions of this perspective by extremist liberals and conservatives have prevented more productive analyses of effective justice and crime control policies.
Abstract
The broken-windows concept meant that disorder in a community is a sign that no one cares and thus leads to more serious problems. Therefore, minor problems warrant serious attention. However, extreme liberals attacked this idea as ignoring the root causes of crime and supporting police misconduct, while extreme conservatives concluded that it meant policies of zero tolerance and harsh punishments of incarceration. These extremes have been ideologically driven and have usurped criminal justice thinking since the 1960s. The result also was policing approaches that increased community alienation. However, the recent declines in crime in New York City and other areas are the result of multiple actions by citizens, community groups, and the police. These efforts underscore the role of criminal justice as backing up the efforts of citizens and communities to prevent crime. It is also clear that talking with community members is a core police activity. Both liberals and conservatives can agree on 10 elements of effective crime prevention and control. Among these are that justice is as important as crime control and that communities and citizens are central to effective crime control. The lecture was part of a series sponsored by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and included an introduction by NIJ Director Jeremy Travis and questions from the audience of public officials, researchers, and others regarding loitering, community distrust of police, curfews, and other topics