Comments on: Rewind: Is the “broken window” theory itself broken? http://apublicdefender.com/2007/08/31/rewind-is-the-broken-window-theory-itself-broken/ Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:29:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jack Payne http://apublicdefender.com/2007/08/31/rewind-is-the-broken-window-theory-itself-broken/comment-page-1/#comment-4869 Jack Payne Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:39:35 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/08/31/rewind-is-the-broken-window-theory-itself-broken/#comment-4869 I like the broken windows theory. Didn't Guilliani (did I spell his name right?) pretty much prove that as the Big Cheese of N.Y., with the squeegee boys and the jay walkers? Oh, sure, socio-economic factors have to play in to the equation, too. But, a broken down setting certainly encourages bad behavior, I would think. I like the broken windows theory. Didn’t Guilliani (did I spell his name right?) pretty much prove that as the Big Cheese of N.Y., with the squeegee boys and the jay walkers?

Oh, sure, socio-economic factors have to play in to the equation, too. But, a broken down setting certainly encourages bad behavior, I would think.

]]> By: Scott Greenfield http://apublicdefender.com/2007/08/31/rewind-is-the-broken-window-theory-itself-broken/comment-page-1/#comment-4814 Scott Greenfield Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:56:26 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/08/31/rewind-is-the-broken-window-theory-itself-broken/#comment-4814 I don't think the broken windows theory was ever intended as an explanation for the root cause of crime, but rather a crime "trigger". In other words, as someone would sit there and make a decision on whether or not to do something, the "broken window" would encourage the choice of committing crime rather than not. But the person making the choice still had to be inclined to consider doing something wrong in the first place. Many of us would never consider such a thing, and would never have to make such a choice. Others would commit crime regardless. I think that Bill Bratton's adoption of the broken windows theory was brilliant, and that it remains an important and viable theory of policing. Plus, it just happens to be good for the general welfare regardless, as we are all better off when small problems that affect our lives are addressed, both before they become bigger problems and so that we can live in an atmosphere that provides a better quality of life. I don’t think the broken windows theory was ever intended as an explanation for the root cause of crime, but rather a crime “trigger”. In other words, as someone would sit there and make a decision on whether or not to do something, the “broken window” would encourage the choice of committing crime rather than not. But the person making the choice still had to be inclined to consider doing something wrong in the first place.

Many of us would never consider such a thing, and would never have to make such a choice. Others would commit crime regardless. I think that Bill Bratton’s adoption of the broken windows theory was brilliant, and that it remains an important and viable theory of policing. Plus, it just happens to be good for the general welfare regardless, as we are all better off when small problems that affect our lives are addressed, both before they become bigger problems and so that we can live in an atmosphere that provides a better quality of life.

]]>