Broken Windows Thesis: A Hot Spots Policing Intervention
Axios
Policing
Problems addressed
Crime and delinquency (multiple types)
Fear of crime and/or sensation of insecurity
Disorder and disturbance (or breach) of the peace
Effectiveness

No Effect

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No Effect

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Life periods served
People of all ages
Where the program was applied
Community (streets or community centers)
Country of application
United States
Description

This is an intervention that applies the broken windows thesis to hot spots. The goal is to eliminate visible signs of disorder and crime in the neighborhood in order to actually reduce crime and increase the perception of safety among residents.
Police officers were instructed not to ignore any physical or social disorder in the targeted areas, but were free to choose which tactics to apply in each case. A total of 55 streets were selected to receive additional shifts of 3 hours of police patrolling per week. The intervention lasted 6 months.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation revealed that an analysis of official crime and disorder measures showed no significant changes; there was no change in the belief that hot spots broken window policing would significantly reduce the levels of fear of crime among people living on the streets included in the intervention [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Weisburd, D., Hinkle, J.C., Famega, C., and Ready, J. (2012). Legitimacy, Fear and Collective Efficacy in Crime Hot Spots. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/239971.pdf

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