The Chronicle: Colloquy: The question

THE QUESTION

Few academic theories have had more influence in the last decade than "broken windows" -- the idea that neighborhoods where minor signs of decay are neglected open the door to more serious crime. Many politicians and police forces embraced the idea, and officials in New York City say that policies based on the theory have helped to substantially reduce crime rates. Recently, however, the "broken windows" thesis has been challenged by scholars in sociology, criminology, and political science. Those researchers believe that empirical evidence for the connection between disorder and crime is weak and overblown. Others argue that New York City's success has been oversimplified and distorted. Is the "broken windows" theory of crime responsible for helping police forces in many cities to cut crime rates? Or has new research pointed to flaws in the theory?

For further information, see this background article:

Poking Holes in the Theory of 'Broken Windows' (2/9/2001)

: 20 RESPONSES (New 2/20)

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