Smart — not harsh — policing is the key to a safe and orderly city

Last updated: January 6, 2025 6:01 am

They would loiter near the turnstiles and offer to let people through in exchange for a token, but then pocket the money instead of swiping them through.)

Bratton’s officers made a point of arresting repeat offenders, many of whom had outstanding warrants for more serious crimes. When transit cops began targeting turnstile jumpers, they made thousands of arrests in the first few weeks. But soon, the word got out, and fare evasion — and crime generally — plummeted throughout the system. Bratton’s enforcement of quality-of-life laws didn’t just improve the experience of subway riders; it played a major role in the city’s dramatic crime decline.

Even if Broken Windows enforcement doesn’t lead directly to the arrest of more violent offenders, it can have a profound impact on the quality of life of those who live and work in troubled areas. In the late 1980s, police officers in the South Bronx would confront drug dealers on seemingly every corner. The dealers would scatter, only to return minutes later, like pigeons. “We took a stand,” recalled a former cop. “We said, ‘No. You’re not coming back.’”

After a few days of this back-and-forth, the dealers got the message and moved on. The residents of the South Bronx were surprised how quickly order was restored. “The people would come up to us and say, ‘Wow, we never thought we’d see the day that this street would be clear of drugs,’” the officer said. The dealers, in other words, had not been chased out of the neighborhood, they had simply been persuaded to ply their trade elsewhere.

The alternative

There is a downside to tolerating minor offenses, as progressive critics of Broken Windows like to do. When certain types of disorder go unaddressed, communities can descend into chaos. This was the case in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the NYPD was grappling with a surge in violent crime. It was a time when the police were under intense pressure from civil libertarians and anti-establishment types to adopt a lighter touch. The result? Chaos. Burglaries and street crime skyrocketed, and the city’s various communities became increasingly hostile to one another.

Order-maintenance policing — as practiced in New York and other major cities — is not about punishing people for being poor or for being homeless. It’s about ensuring that neighborhoods remain safe and orderly for everyone. It’s about demonstrating that the police care about quality of life and are willing to work with community members to address their concerns. It’s about not allowing people to break the rules without consequences. It’s about keeping the broken windows repaired.

Malcolm Gladwell may have changed his mind about Broken Windows, but the evidence is clear: the theory works, and it’s a key part of why New York City is the safest big city in America.

So here’s to the Broken Windows theory of policing. It may be simple, but it’s effective. And, unlike many other policing strategies, it’s based on a deep understanding of human nature.

Sources:
https://nypost.com/2025/01/14/broken-windows-policing-still-works-despite-malcolm-gladwells-reversal/ In the bustling streets of New York City, crime was once rampant, with subway vaulters and token suckers contributing to the chaos. These down-and-out New Yorkers would resort to desperate measures, such as putting their mouths to jammed turnstile slots to retrieve subway tokens, which they would then resell. This unsanitary and illegal activity caught the attention of law enforcement, leading to crackdowns on subway crimes.

Under the leadership of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the NYPD implemented the Broken Windows policing strategy in 1994, with William Bratton as the commissioner. This approach focused on addressing minor offenses and disorderly conduct in order to prevent more serious crimes from occurring. The results were impressive, with crime rates in New York City plummeting significantly over the years.

Critics of Broken Windows argue that crime reduction cannot be attributed solely to this policing strategy, as multiple factors can influence crime rates. However, the success of Broken Windows in reducing crime in New York City is undeniable. Homicides and robberies decreased significantly, demonstrating the effectiveness of order-maintenance policing.

Malcolm Gladwell, in his podcast, challenges the Broken Windows approach with a personal anecdote involving a stop-and-frisk incident in The Bronx. While there were instances of police misconduct in stop-and-frisk practices, this was not a direct result of Broken Windows policing. Stop-and-frisk tactics were later deemed unconstitutional due to their disproportionate targeting of minorities.

Broken Windows policing is not synonymous with zero-tolerance policing, as it allows for police discretion based on community priorities. While some argue that the NYPD was too aggressive in its enforcement of Broken Windows policies, adjustments were made over time to align with community needs and concerns.

In his book “The Profession,” Bratton likens cities to patients and police commanders to doctors, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to policing based on the current state of the city. As crime rates decreased in New York City, the NYPD shifted its focus to address community feedback and concerns, adapting its strategies accordingly.

Despite its conservative origins and associations with controversial figures like Giuliani, Broken Windows policing has proven to be an effective tool in combating crime in urban areas. By prioritizing community control and addressing minor offenses, this strategy has contributed to significant reductions in crime rates and improved public safety in New York City. Criminological theories with conservative undertones have often been overlooked and criticized in favor of more liberal perspectives, regardless of their effectiveness. As Matt DeLisi pointed out in City Journal, this bias in the field of criminology has led to the dismissal of certain theories, such as Broken Windows, which emphasize the importance of maintaining order and addressing minor offenses to prevent more serious crimes.

Despite the success of Broken Windows in reducing crime rates in cities like New York during the 1990s, many researchers and scholars have sought alternative explanations for the decline in crime. Some have attributed the decrease to factors like reduced exposure to leaded gasoline, decreased cash circulation, or even the use of antidepressants like Prozac. While these theories may offer interesting insights, they often overlook the simple yet effective principles of Broken Windows.

Critics of Broken Windows may claim to oppose its implementation, but when confronted with the question of whether they would feel safe in a neighborhood plagued by disorderly conduct, their answer is usually a resounding “no.” This intuitive understanding that minor offenses can create an environment conducive to more serious crimes underscores the logic behind Broken Windows and the importance of maintaining community standards.

It is essential to recognize that the successful application of Broken Windows does not require heavy-handed policing or excessive enforcement of minor offenses. Instead, when police focus on upholding minimal community standards and promoting a sense of order, it can lead to significant improvements in public safety.

In conclusion, the dismissal of conservative criminological theories like Broken Windows is a disservice to the field of criminology and public safety. By embracing a thoughtful approach to implementing strategies like Broken Windows, we can create safer and more orderly communities for all residents.

John McMillian, an associate professor of history at Georgia State University, is currently working on a book about crime and policing in New York City since the 1960s. This article was originally published in City Journal and highlights the importance of considering all perspectives in the study of crime prevention and public safety.