Broken Windows Theory
James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling
Which NYPD Commissioner popularized Broken Windows policing in the mid-1990s?
William Bratton
Which communities were most heavily targeted under Broken Windows policing?
Black and Latino communities
What type of crime did studies show did not significantly decrease due to Broken Windows policing?
Serious or violent crime
What modern movement challenges racially biased policing practices?
Black Lives Matter
What was the central claim of the Broken Windows Theory?
That visible signs of disorder (like broken windows) lead to more serious crime if not addressed.
What was the “zero tolerance” approach meant to address?
Cracking down on minor offenses to deter serious crimes
How did Broken Windows policing affect police-community relations?
It eroded trust and increased tension
Which sociological factor did critics argue was ignored by Broken Windows Theory?
Structural inequality and poverty
What type of community investments are suggested as alternatives to aggressive policing?
Affordable housing, education, and mental health services
Which city became the model for Broken Windows policing in the 1990s?
New York City
Which data-driven NYPD program tracked crime statistics and reinforced Broken Windows enforcement?
CompStat
What is one psychological effect on communities constantly under surveillance?
Fear, trauma, or distrust toward law enforcement
Name one scholar or organization that has criticized the racial bias in Broken Windows policing.
The Brennan Center for Justice, Michelle Alexander, or the ACLU
What’s one strategy for rebuilding trust between police and communities?
Transparency, accountability boards, or community partnerships
What type of policing is directly associated with the Broken Windows Theory?
Order maintenance or “quality-of-life” policing
Name one policy practice that emerged from Broken Windows policing.
Stop-and-Frisk
Which constitutional amendment was often cited as being violated by Stop-and-Frisk practices?
The Fourth Amendment (unreasonable searches and seizures)
What alternative approach focuses on relationship-building rather than punishment?
Community policing
What term refers to police reform efforts aimed at reducing unnecessary enforcement of minor offenses?
Decriminalization or harm reduction
What was one intended benefit of Broken Windows policing?
To reduce crime by preventing minor offenses from escalating.
Which mayor’s administration supported and expanded Broken Windows policing?
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
What major lawsuit challenged the racial bias in Stop-and-Frisk policing?
Floyd v. City of New York (2013)
What term describes policies that disproportionately harm marginalized groups despite race-neutral language?
Systemic or institutional racism
What emerging framework views public safety as a shared community responsibility, not solely a police function?
Public-health or restorative-justice model