History Matters
In the 1980s and 1990s, some cities used the “broken windows” theory to guide their policing. This theory suggested that by reducing small crimes like graffiti and littering, they could also reduce more serious crimes. However, over policing minor offenses led to problems. For example, zero tolerance, stop-and-frisk, police violence, racial profiling, and putting too many people of color in jail. These impacts are still felt today. Community policing can be more respectful and effective. Police can work with communities to fight crime, improve quality of life, and reduce the threat of crime. [17]This includes:
- Creating neighborhood response teams
- Hosting gun buy-back programs
- Improving the built environment
- Encouraging community members to work together more