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The Broken Window Theory

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The broken- windows theory was developed in 1982 by criminologists James Q. Wilson and George Keeling. The meaning behind this theory is that crime is the inevitable result of disorder. “If a window is broken and left unrepaired, people walking by will conclude that no one cares, and no is in charge (Lorenz, pg.248).” Therefore; that broken window or minor infraction will convey a message of encouragement to criminals that there is less social control, making it safe to commit more serious offenses and avoid being caught (Bell, 2015). Zero-tolerance policies can be linked to the broken window theory or to social control theories. The zero tolerance policies were first established and implemented to be a legal deterrent in narcotics trafficking …show more content…

In 1994, the Clinton administration signed the Gun Free Schools Act due to the increased public concern and outrage for the mass shootings that were taking place within our public- school system. The zero tolerance policies included the emphasis on keeping firearms off our school campuses as well as anything that could be considered disruptive or unsafe to the learning environment including illegal drugs, over-the- counter medications, and any other prohibited behaviors (APA Task Force, 2006). The National Center for Educational Statistics and the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported in the 1990s that 94% of schools throughout our nation had policies in place for firearms, 87% for alcohol, 88% for drugs, and 79% for violent behavior (Stinchcomb, Bazemore, & Riestenberg, …show more content…

The key assumption of the above punishments would be a result of a safer climate and/or classroom experience for all children as well as sending a strong deterrent message to all other students. (APA Task Force, 2008; Gregory & Cornell, 2009). But in fact it has been established that non-attendance due to the punishments listed above can lead to negative child well-being outcomes such as; poor academic performance, low school attachments, delinquency, drug use, sexual promiscuity, and eventual school dropout which ultimately does not promote a safe and welcoming classroom experience for all children (Sutphen, R., D., Ford, J., P., Flaherty, C.,

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This article demonstrates how Bill Bratton, as the Commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD) from 1994 to 1996, William J. Bratton fought crime throughout the city of Ney York with legendary achievement, leading a national revolution in attitudes toward policing. Bratton adopted a “broken windows”1 community policing strategy of zero tolerance for minor offenses and championed statistical analysis to prevent crimes before they occurred. In the 70s and 80s, as Bratton continued his career in policing, institutional theories seemed dominant. Nixon’s brand of “tough-on-crime” and “law and order” conservatism meant that community relations were largely ignored by police. In 1982, James Wilson sought to re-establish some balance.

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1. The article showcases how the “broken windows” theory was popularized, and proven to work, thus Mayor Giuliani of New York City applied the theory to lower crime rates throughout the city. However, it was later proven that the theory had faulty logic, and statistical backing thus losing momentum.

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Criminology Final Exam Essay The broken windows theory was first introduced in 1982 by James Q. Wilson and George Kelling. The theory symbolically used “broken windows” as a metaphor for the disorder and crime within neighborhoods. This theory tries to connect disorder within a community to explain occurrences of serious crimes. Before the development of various theories such as broken windows, police and law enforcement scholars usually focused on serious crime.

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The broken-windows theory was enforced before zero-tolerance policy and the Mayor transitioned into a more strict policy for reducing crime. Broken windows policing was effective in reducing crime rates within the United States. The transition into zero-tolerance policy made the police look at small offenses more seriously because these small offenses and low-level crimes could lead to higher offenses. Zero-tolerance was implemented because the Mayor realized all criminal offenses needed to be taken

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Gun control has been a controversial issue for years and numerous solutions have been proposed and enacted. The debate sparked after tragic civilian attacks, like school shootings. An example, is the tragedy in 1999 at Columbine High School. Two teens attacked the school, killing 13 people and wounding more than 20 others before killing themselves. Following this attack, numerous solutions have been argued and purposed.

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In criminology, differential association is a theory developed by Edwin Sutherland proposing that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior. The differential association theory is the most talked about of the learning theories of deviance. (DAT). (Sutherland) (Sociological Theories of Crime and Their Explanation on Crime , 2007) Theories of criminality are most commonly derived from human behavior.

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As a concerned citizen and college student, I recommend several policies to create a safer environment at school campuses. As there has been an increase in school shootings within the last ten years, the safety of students on campus has become a major concern. The problem of the increase in the number of school shootings has resulted in an unsafe environment for students affecting overall development. I am writing to seek your assistance on the issue of schools not having proper safety measures to prevent and respond to mass shootings, this issue must come to an end by finding an appropriate resolution. Gun control is a controversial topic that has been placed on the agenda for several years.

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School shootings are starting to become a norm in today 's world. This is something we can only take precautions for but, we cannot completely stop school shootings from happening. Banning guns is not the option because the shooters are still going to find a way to get their guns. We should not punish everybody for the stupidity of some people 's actions. "At Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado two teens went on a shooting spree on April 20, 1999, killing 13 people and wounding more than 20 others before turning their guns on themselves and committing suicide" (Columbine Shooting, 2018).

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The shootings that have happened in schools throughout America over the past few months has divided Americans on what they need to do as a nation to stop additional shootings from occouring. Many believe that creating new laws on buying weapons by requiring background checks, holding adults liable for the actions of their kids and requiring safety devices on weapons to stop youngsters will stop these massacres in schools from happening, it 's a step in the right direction, however, it 's not good enough nor is it effective enough, America needs well regulated gun laws and the politicians must understand that the laws should be based on facts, not opinions. There are several problems that need to be looked at in order to determine which laws are necessary. According to a recent study, America has the highest amount gun related deaths every year in the world. “Germany, has 371 gun related deaths, France 255, Canada 165, the united kingdom 68, Australia 65, Japan 39 and America, 11,200”.

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The use of and the owning of guns is a very hot and debated topic in society today. For many, this is a life and death debate due to the recent and numerous school shootings. These school shootings have caused an outcry for more gun control, specifically in relation to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Despite these calls, increased gun control is not the answer. Most gun owners’ use their guns responsibly and for good purposes.

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Ever since the inception of this country 240 years ago, guns have been an integral part of the American identity; a sense of lawlessness, individualism, personal autonomy and freedom. They were the tools that liberated us, and gave us independence over a tyrannical, unrepresentative empire. However, in more recent years, these tools have been used more and more frequently in mass shootings, some of which are occurring at schools, targeting teachers and children. Since the infamous shooting at Columbine High School 19 years ago, we have had several shootings at schools, and we tend to get “thoughts and prayers”, a gesture with good intentions, but little actual progress made. This problem can be contributed to the increasing power of guns, and a lack of mental health coverage, gun

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The theory is very pro-active and requires law enforcement officers to recognize, not ignore, offense and deal with it. Offenses such as graffiti, loitering, soliciting, parking violation, traffic driving, truancy, and abandoned property are minor offenses that grow into larger problems that can transform a good neighborhood into a chaotic neighborhood within the span of 10 years. However, there are a lot of disadvantages to the broken window theory. The first disadvantages to the broken windows theory is the zero-tolerance policy. Zero tolerance policing relies on the premise that the more arrests made by officers for minor crimes contributing to community disorder, the less severe crime that community will have to

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Guns have no role in our country schools. Schools and colleges are places of education. Students should be free to learn in an environment away from every day violence. The catastrophes that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Columbine High School, and Virginia Tech. confirm the penetrating conclusion guns have in our nation’s schools. Violence on campus has Students, Parent, and University Staff all concerned and looking for preventative measures.

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Many schools in today’s society suffer from shootings at some point while children are attending school. Shootings in schools are not a new occurrence, and America has dealt with multiple shootings in public schools in which the lives of many children and teachers have been undeservingly taken (Elliott 528). Because of school shootings, this leaves our children in danger with no way to protect themselves. Gun violence in schools is an evident problem, and there are several ways to reduce the number of incidents, such as mental health screening for owners of guns, interconnectedness of communities, and more school funding.

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Many people have different viewpoints as to what criminal justice and criminology are, in my point of view I believe these two terms have a distinct definition and action. Although they might sound somewhat similar based on the textbook criminal justice is said to be defined as “institutions, policies, and practices with the goal of maintaining social control through sanctions and rehabilitation.” and it also states that criminology is “academic discipline that investigates the nature extent and causes of criminal offending”. In my own words, what my understanding of criminal justice is that it refers to the system of law enforcement, courts, and corrections in the U.S. that includes actions from the government in which aim to lessen the occurrence

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