The "broken windows" theory, associated with community policing and order maintenance, was proposed by which scholars?

Question

Accepted Answer

James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling. James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling introduced the "broken windows" theory in a 1982 article in The Atlantic Monthly. The theory posits that visible signs of disorder and neglect in a neighborhood - such as broken windows, graffiti, litter, and public drinking - signal that no one is in charge and that criminal behavior will be tolerated, leading to an escalation of disorder and eventually more serious crime. The metaphor of a broken window suggests that if one broken window in a building is left unrepaired, the rest will soon be broken too, as the signal of neglect invites further damage.

Herman Goldstein developed the concept of problem-oriented policing (POP) in 1979, which focuses on identifying and analyzing the underlying conditions that give rise to recurring problems rather than simply responding to individual incidents. While POP is related to community policing, it is a distinct approach from the broken windows theory. Robert Trojanowicz was a pioneer of community policing who established the National Center for Community Policing at Michigan State University and conducted influential research on foot patrol and community engagement, but he did not develop the broken windows concept. William Bratton, as New York City Police Commissioner in the 1990s, famously implemented policing strategies based on the broken windows theory, but he was the practitioner who applied the theory rather than the scholar who developed it.

The broken windows theory is a frequently tested topic on the DSST exam because it has had enormous influence on policing strategies, particularly the order maintenance and quality-of-life policing approaches adopted by many departments since the 1990s. Students should understand both the theory and the criticisms leveled against it, including concerns about discriminatory enforcement and questions about whether the causal link between disorder and serious crime is as strong as the theory suggests.

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