Introduction
The basic strategies of police workers are inherently connected with local citizens and have a diverse nature. This study examines the issue of police officers’ general acceptance of tactics and principles of broken windows and community problem-solving policing. It is crucial for evaluating diverse support for each police officer’s characteristics, including ethnical, gender, educational, and assignment factors. The analysis of this study contributes to assessing the critical concepts of the broken windows perspective, as well as the essential community problem-solving linkage to the police and citizens.
Theoretical/ Conceptual Development
The theoretical approach requires the gradual passage from the definition of the issue to the detailed examination of its core points. According to Jenkins (2015), the researchers unevenly distinguish between community policing, broken windows policing (BWP), and problem-solving, although these concepts tend to be implemented coupled with each other. Thus, community policing and problem-solving policing form the essence of community problem-solving policing with the BWP as the crucial factor. After the rapid growth of crime and reassessment of the police profession in the 1960s, the community problem-solving aspects were progressively enacted.
Three mentioned concepts are regarded as “three main movements characterizing this era” (Jenkins, 2015, p. 222). Based on Welsh, Braga, and Bruinsma’s (2015) research, there is little evidence that handling the disorder decreases fear of crime or increases community controls. Despite the theoretical mechanisms, the overall idea of arranging disorderly conditions to control crime is maintained by the available evaluation evidence. Besides, the available empirical evidence on the linkage between disorder and subsequent crime is extensive.
Methodological/ Statistical Approach
The methodological approach of this study implies data collection, analyses, and results. An electronic survey instrument was used to “227 sworn officers in two urban police departments” (Jenkins, 2015, p. 225). With that said, univariate analyses disclose the support levels that police need for specific police tactics and theoretical principles of BWP. Regression analyses, on the other hand, trace the correlation between support for these tactics and principles and respondent race and ethnicity based on the other characteristics, such as “gender, education, rank, years of service, and assignment” (Jenkins, 2015, p. 227).
As described by Weisburd, Hinkle, Braga, and Wooditch (2015), to enhance the ability of the community to exercise informal social controls, the police should follow certain methods. Those include responding to minor disturbances and crimes and immediately fighting against physical dilapidation.
Explanation/ Substance of the Findings and Discussion
Jenkins’ exploratory analysis of the community problem-solving tactics connected with the broken windows theory discloses critical findings regarding the current state of policing. Three significant findings include unambiguous support of the respondents for community problem-solving; however, with further focus on some traditional methods of policing. The second finding implies a delay in detectives’ and investigators’ approval of tactics part of community problem-solving. Ultimately, the third finding includes differences by officers’ characteristics at a certain rate concerning broken windows policing tactics and principles, as well as an important reform strategy tactic.
Other Approaches or Viewpoints
Considering different viewpoints, Skogan, Hartnett, Comey, Dubois, and Kaiser (2019) examines the police and problem-solving issue. They suggest that the police play a pivotal role based on the unique trust of society. Hence, implementing a problem-solving strategy increases the responsibilities held by police that reflect the broader conception of policing. Referring to the broken windows policing, Kohler-Hausmann (2018) explores the case of the New York City experiment in the BWP regime, which resulted in a “higher number of arrests and lower number of convictions” (p. 172). With that said, the central approach implies forming a strong partnership between the police and the community.
To sum up, the exploratory findings, together with other researches, revealed that Latino police officers are more prone to accept those elements that force the police to take an active role in forming relationships with society. Therefore, it is possible to sustain orderly communities, as well as recognition of communities’ capacity to deal with disorder and their definition of uncivil behavior. Altogether, it is a significant approach for future research and policy development.
References
Jenkins, M. (2015). Police support for community problem-solving and broken windows policing. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 41(2), 220-235. Web.
Kohler-Hausmann, I. (2018). Misdemeanorland: Criminal courts and social control in an age of broken windows policing. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Skogan, W., Hartnett, S., Comey, J., Dubois, J., & Kaiser, M. (2019). On the beat: Police and community problem solving. New York, NY: Routledge.
Weisburd, D., Hinkle, J., Braga, A., & Wooditch, A. (2015). Understanding the mechanisms underlying broken windows policing. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 52(4), 589-608. Web.
Welsh, B., Braga, A., & Bruinsma, G. (2015). Reimagining broken windows. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 52(4), 447-463. Web.