Question: What Is Broken Windows Policing?
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Broken windows theory

What is the broken windows model of policing?

The broken windows model of policing was first described in 1982 in a seminal article by Wilson and Kelling. Briefly, the model focuses on the importance of disorder (e.g., broken windows) in generating and sustaining more serious crime.

What is meant by broken windows?

Broken window theory is the concept that each problem that goes unattended in a given environment affects people’s attitude toward that environment and leads to more problems. The theory first appeared in a 1982 article (“Broken Windows”) in The Atlantic by two social scientists, James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

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