Introduction
The theory of broken windows is a theory in criminology that considers minor offenses not only as an indicator of the criminogenic situation but also as an active factor affecting the serious crime rate. The theory claims that the connivance of society to minor offenses, such as vandalism and others, directly provokes people to commit similar or more serious offenses (O’Brien et al., 2019). There are different views on the theory of broken windows, but I am inclined to believe that there are more positive sides than critics.
Main body
Each individual lives in a specific social environment. And to change the situation, people need to apply efforts to change this environment. For example, actions to combat petty hooliganism have indeed reduced the crime rate in New York. As part of the criminal investigation program in many parts of New York, criminal activity was monitored on an ongoing basis, with the responsibility of the police in each district (Kamalu & Onyeozili, 2018). However, the study tracked a correlation, not a causal relationship, that would prove that acts of petty hooliganism push the same or other people to more serious crimes. On the other hand, there was no evidence that no third force would reduce or affect the number of serious crimes in the city. Indeed, the number of serious violations has decreased, but extraneous factors have not been investigated, and because of this, the theory of broken windows has been heavily criticized.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are arguments both for and against the broken windows theory, which may raise doubts about its effectiveness and applicability to different environments. However, the theory can be considered from different angles, highlighting the positive aspects of a particular situation. Reducing even minor crimes does not bring any negative consequences, so it is not necessary to track the relationship between light and serious crime in order to put the theory into practice in a particular city.
References
O’Brien, D. T., Farrell, C., & Welsh, B. C. (2019). Broken (windows) theory: A meta-analysis of the evidence for the pathways from neighborhood disorder to resident health outcomes and behaviors. Social Science & Medicine, 228, 272-292. Web.
Kamalu, N. C., & Onyeozili, E. C. (2018). A critical analysis of the ‘Broken Windows’ policing in New York city and its impact: Implications for the criminal justice system and the african american community. African Journal of Criminology & Justice Studies, 11(1), 71-90. Web.