Discouraging window breakers: The lagged effects of police activity on crime

Background us studies have tested numerous times with mixed results the utility of Wilson and Kellingʹs (1982) Broken Windows theory as a crime reduction strategy. Despite mixed scholarship, Broken Windows enforcement has remained a staple in municipal policing strategies. als and Methods previous studies, this study operationalized Broken Windows at the sector level and examined the effects of proactive policing activities –traffic citations and non-traffic citations – on monthly-reported violent and property crimes. s -effects negative binomial models suggest mixed support for Broken Windows. Specifically, Broken Windows measures failed to predict violent crime, but non-traffic citations reduced property crime at all three lagged intervals. sion Windows enforcement activity has the potential to reduce crime when operationalized correctly. Additionally, the lagged effects suggested non-traffic citations had a lagged deterrent effect on property crime.