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Applying the Broken Windows Theory to Code Enforcement in Urban Communities
own compliance efforts and encourage investments in property enhancements.

Conclusion

The broken windows theory has had numerous critics, since the years it was intro-

duced, by other theorists and social scientists either totally contradicting the theory
or discrediting its actual application in being responsible for reducing crime. A

study done by Robert J. Sampson and Stephen W. Raudenbush provided the argu-
ment that crime was not caused by social disorder but that the lack of cohesion of D
residents and their tolerance of lack of control of social spaces within a community E

actually contributes to the crime rate. However, as in law enforcement’s efforts to C
reduce crime, there usually is no silver bullet approach and crime prevention re- E

quires numerous strategies from Crime Prevention through Environmental Design P
(CPTED) to Community Policing. In code enforcement, economic rejuvenation T
and surges in the real estate market and lending has helped to eliminate blighted I

properties not directly related to addressing indirect code violations. Also, changes O
in personal financial situations often may have a direct effect on a person’s ability N

to correct or prevent code violations. Since it is typical that the majority of persons
correct code violations once they are made aware that a problem exists, attention is
the most important factor with keeping properties in compliance with maintenance

codes. If an effort to reduce crime through applying the broken windows theory is
sought, the use of code enforcement should be focused on addressing those viola-

tions that contribute to a disorderly environment versus the common code violation
for aesthetic violations. Use of police records to identify locations of high volumes
of police calls may show properties, that from the outside, do not appear to have

any major violations, but the illegal use of the property may be a contributing fac-
tor to crime occurring in the community or at least a location that may be taxing law

enforcement resources. While any effort to improve the appearance of a commu-
nity will reap rewards, the reduction of crime and feeling of safety for members of
a community is directly related to the removal of those specific areas or ‘hotspots’

that are the contributing to the disorder and criminal element. The elimination of
those properties that are the most blighted and in major disrepair or abandoned,

will reap benefits beyond just the improvement of the quality of life of the adjacent
neighbors, but an increase in real estate value as just the mere existence of aban-
doned homes and deteriorated structures has a direct and negative impact on the

community and how it is perceived by others.

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