There is a reason that ideas and reality are two separate concepts. Broken Windows theory sounds feasible and promising by definition, but alas, it is only a theory. It seems logical that in order to decrease crime and violence on a large scale, you have to start small. An environment which frowns upon turnstile jumping, public intoxication, and loitering must also frown upon muggings, drug deals, and even murder. If police crack down on those smaller crimes, it creates a community where people feel safer, even if the crime rate is the same. However, when police are assigned quotas to give out summons and tickets, they must spend more time writing than policing. And when you tell someone that their job will be in danger if they don’t meet their quota, obviously they will meet it. But how will they go about it? Well, this is where Broken Windows theory falls apart.
As Bob Gangi brought to our attention, the statistical evidence clearly shows that minorities, especially African-Americans and Hispanics, are particularly targeted by policies such as Broken Windows. When a police officer must make a quick judgment about which citizens may be suspicious or possibly criminal, the unfortunate realities of racism and prejudice come out. It is sad that in today’s society, racism still drives many people, whether consciously or not, but it’s the truth. I believe that Broken Windows is a great theory, and perhaps could work in a more unbiased or smaller community, but legislation which perpetrates the theory simply does not work in New York City.
Casey Sniffin
