Criminology the Essence of Broken Windows Theory Essay

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Criminology

The essence of broken windows theory is that "if a neighborhood or city doesn't fix its broken windows and graffiti, the environment will continue to descend into crime, chaos and violence," (Thompson, 2012). Environmental variables have an impact on crime rates, which is why it is important to pay attention to the foreclosure phenomenon and the phenomenal rate at which foreclosures are happening in certain neighborhoods. A vicious cycle can be created, whereby the neighborhoods with high rates of foreclosures have higher rates of crime; and those high crime neighborhoods become much less attractive to would-be investors and home buyers. The result is a perpetually depressed and crime-ridden neighborhood. Using broken windows theory, it is important to see why law enforcement and city officials need to pay close attention to which neighborhoods are at risk. Real estate investors should also be paying attention to the problem, ensuring that areas with high rates of foreclosure are attractive to new investors.

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New investors can help prevent crime, within the context of broken windows theory.

Broken windows theory therefore accounts for the two-way street between crime and foreclosure rates. On the one hand, there are important socio-economic variables that impact the foreclosure rate. As Wilson, Cieplowski & Lee (n.d.) point out, "lower income neighborhoods and those already struggling to address other social problems may be most at risk," (p. 193). Areas with low income housing, in which residents have low paying jobs, are already at risk for crime problems and weaker law enforcement responses vs. wealthier neighborhoods. The same people who cannot afford to keep their homes are already at risk for experiencing crime. When the foreclosures happen, their neighborhoods suffer even more due to the deterioration of the community. Foreclosed homes means vacant homes, which lead to decay, dereliction, vandalism, and petty crimes. Petty crimes can then lead to more serious crimes, which can be….....

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