Broken Window Policy (Essay Sample)

Broken Window Policy
Name
Instructor
Institution
Date
Introduction
Crime prevention has taken different approaches, especially as the society continues to be sophisticated. Crime busters have enough on their hands as far as solving them is concerned, and they can only do more on their own. To this end, various theories have been advanced in an effort to help simplify the task of law enforcement agencies. These theories help formulate a working hypothesis upon which crime can effectively be combatted, and the criminal elements reined in. One of these theories is the broken window theory. The broken window theory and policy does not work because it does not reflect the underlying issues within a given social setup.
Broken Window Policy
The broken window theory was first coined in 1982 by Wilson and Kelling, in their argument to try and explain social order and control in the society (Kelling & Wilson, 1982). Whenever small crimes or activities that cause disorder, such as vandalism, graffiti and general social rowdiness are not tackled effectively, then there is a high chance that serious crimes might occur. This is simply the basic understanding of the broken window theory. It is a theory that states, unchecked disorder leads to more disorder. When small activities that cause disorder in a neighborhood go unpunished, the neighborhood can easily disintegrate into a broken one.
A broken society essentially spells doom for social control by the authorities, since it will take a lot of efforts and resources to do so. It is usually quite psychological; when a neighborhood starts having a reputation of petty crimes, there is a general fear about it (Bratton & Kelling, 2015). Those who live there might start moving out due to such fear, while those on the outside might opt to stay away from it. This results in a situation where there is an informal kind of social control within such a neighborhood, with anarchy and unlawfulness being the order of the day, and more violent conduct therein.
When it comes to the broken window policy, the focus is on measures to tackle the problem highlighted in the theory, in order to maintain order and proper management through social control (CEBCP, n.d.). The policy is therefore not geared towards ways to curb such extreme kinds of behavior in the society, and this should be done immediately to prevent the vice from growing out of control as initially noted. It is however important to note that deviant behavior in the society is not just abrupt, it is rather a combination of things.
Sometimes, doing this simply entails having police officers present in these neighborhoods. It is worth noting that the problem is not only crime but also any kind of disorderly behavior. Such behavior can be seen from drug addicts and drunkards or rowdy youngsters on the streets (Kelling & Wilson, 1982). The presence of officers patrolling an area will effectively clear these disorderly individuals from the streets, thereby reducing the fear among residents. It might not have reduced crime in general, but At least solved one problem of the broken window theory.
Why Broken Window Policy Does Not Work.
The policy does not work because it does not ensure that any bad behavior is nipped at the bud (McMaken, 2016). Generally, unbecoming or deviant acts in the society are usually a culmination of something very basic that has gone wrong somewhere. The policy clearly identifies that it is the small things that build up to something much bigger. This means that it ensures authorities address the small causative agents first, before it grows into a monster. In other terms, the decay of a neighborhood is usually a systematic process that takes time, and can hence be corrected before it is too late.
The major causes of bad behavior in a society include poor upbringing couples with poverty and broken families, as well as systemic racism (Vedantam et al., 2016). In fact, systemic racism is what often results in poverty in some neighborhoods. It is perhaps most areas where the policy can apply or applies are those of low economic status. People become frustrated due to lack o