<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The broken windows theory is a criminological theory of the norm - setting and signaling effect of urban disorder and vandalism on additional crime and anti-social behavior . The theory states that maintaining and monitoring urban environments to prevent small crimes such as vandalism, public drinking, and turnstile - jumping helps to create an atmosphere of order and lawfulness, thereby preventing more serious crimes from happening . </P> <P> The theory was introduced in a 1982 article by social scientists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling . Since then it has been subject to great debate both within the social sciences and the public sphere . The theory has been used as a motivation for several reforms in criminal policy, including the controversial mass use of "stop, question, and frisk" by the New York City Police Department . </P>

Broken windows the police and neighborhood safety summary
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