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The Broken Window Theory

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The Broken Window Theory
Environmental theory is ecologically based and focuses on the relationship between society and the environment. One aspect of the theory largely focuses on a “routine activity approach” which includes likely offenders, suitable targets, and the absence of guardians against criminal behavior (Cohen and Felson, 1979). Structural changes alter people’s routine activities which influence crime trends, because of the convergence in time and space as they relate to direct-contact predatory violations (Cohen and Felson, 1979). Direct-contact predatory violations are defined as, “illegal acts in which “someone definitely and intentionally takes or damages the person or property of another”” (Cohen and Felson, 1979, p. 589).
For direct-contact violations …show more content…
The broken window theory views disorder and crime as inextricably linked and sequential in nature (Kelling and Wilson, 1982). The broken windows theory at its most rudimentary foundation believed, “…that if a window in a building was broken and left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken…one unrepaired broken window is a signal no one cares” (Kelling and Wilson, 1982, no page number). Addressing neighborhoods that are deteriorating and making positive changes like engaging the people within the communities while managing public order can make a neighborhood less attractive for criminal behavior (Kelling and Wilson, …show more content…
L. and Brantingham, P. J. (1993). Nodes, paths and edges: Considerations on the complexity of crime and the physical environment. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 13 (1), 3-28.
Clarke, R. V. G. (1980). “Situational” crime prevention: Theory and practice. The British Journal of Criminology. 20 (2), 136-147.
Cohen, E. and Felson, Marcus. (1979). Social change and crime rate trends: A routine activities approach. American Sociological Review. 44 (4), 588-608.
Gabor, T., Baril, M., Cusson, M., Elie, D. LeBlanc, M., and Normandeau, A. (1987). Armed Robbery: Cops, Robbers, and Victims. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas, Publisher.
Kelling, George L. and Wilson, James Q. (1982). Broken windows: The police and neighborhood safety. The Atlantic. 249 (3), 29-38.
Letkemann, P. (1973). Crime as Work. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Rengert, G. and Wasilchick, J. (1985). Suburban Crime: A Time and a Place for Everything. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Wise, J. and Stoks, F., (1981). Correlates of Environmental Behaviors in Subsidized Housing or Design and Vandalism: Three Case Studies for the Seattle Housing Authority. Seattle, WA: School of
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