The “Broken Windows” theory is a gateway to over-criminalization and distrust between officers and community members. The theory rests on the belief that small crimes like vandalism, public urination, public intoxication, etc. encourage more crime and create an air of negligence that justifies further negative behavior. Therefore, according to the theory, the best way to stop a neighborhood from becoming a “bad neighborhood” is to nip the negligence in the bud by punishing those infractions. That means punishing people for sleeping on public benches instead of in our overcrowded and underfunded shelters, or punishing those who choose to urinate on the street instead of in the public restrooms we don’t have. The Broken Windows Theory promotes overcriminalization because it makes this arguably poor conduct much more criminal than it is. If a neighborhood is being constantly punished “protected” in this way, it would breed discontent between officials and residents. Granted, some may find the neighborhood to feel safer, regardless of the lack of a significant statistical change, but this doesn’t change the fact that we would be punishing people for things they may not have a choice in. It also fills their record with infractions and could have grave immigration consequences. Broken Windows could give officers greater power and give them a license to try and push out the people that make that neighborhood unsafe or unpleasant. Unfortunately, due to prejudice and the demographic of those most in need, that usually minority populations like Latin@s and African Americans. That police power can quickly turn into discrimination and broken trust, which is harder to fix than a broken window.
-Sindi
