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DateTue, 07 Jul 98 081141 -0800
Fromryanm@trimet.org
SubjectLitter & Crime
Before I head to the library, I'm looking for statistics where litter
and vandalism problems affected the crime rates. I want to quantitatively prove that cleanup projects and anti-litter campaigns enhance areas through economic boosts and lower crime rates. Anybody have information or know where I should look?
I'm ryanm@tri-met.org
Thanks!
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DateWed, 8 Jul 1998 010906 EDT
|FromANACTIVIST@aol.com
SubjectReLitter & Crime
REPLY
Ryan -
Have you started with James Q. Wilson's "Broken Windows" - a chapter in a book he wrote on crime (which name I can't remember) in the 70's. His theory - that if a window is broken
and not repaired, if litter is allowed to accumulate and a neighborhood to physically deteriorate, crime will flow into the area - has been pretty well proven.
You might also make contact with the NYPD whose "broken windows" approach to low level street crime has been credited with New York's dramatic crime reduction rate.
I have some other contact suggestions, but they're at the office. I can forward more later, if you wish.
Alma Williams
Phoenix, AZ
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DateWed, 08 Jul 1998 125833 -0400
FromEd Schwartz <edcivic@mindspring.com>
SubjectReLitter & Crime
The Wilson book that Alma Williams mentions is "Thinking About Crime."
Wilson reports on a particularly interesting experiment in this area. The research group put an abandoned car in each of two neighborhoods-- one, quite affluent; the other, in the inner city.
The car in the inner city was vandalized within a matter of hours. The car in the affluent neighborhood remained untouched for a few days, until someone broke a window in it. Within a day, that car was totally
vandalized as well.
Wilson's point is that litter, graffiti, and blight send a signal that the neighborhood is unable to enforce civic values in its day-to-day existence and therefore lax in its
treatment of crime. This makes the neighborhood fair game for more serious crimes.
The other place to turn for more recent examples would be New York City. The basis of New York's latest efforts to control cime has been to get tough with minor offenses. I suspect that these
may represent behavior related to vandalism and even littering--I'm notsure. But that would be worth checking out as well.
Ed Schwartz
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DateWed, 08 Jul 1998 124051 -0600
From"Five Points Media Center Corp." <fpmc@5pointsmedia.org>
SubjectReLitter & Crime
I was home, in NYC for Christmas and yes, the city has tightened up on minor violations. Many are pleased with the results, the crime rate has decreased.
However, many people feel that this is an intrusion on their civil rights. For instance, there are cameras everywhere, even Washington Square Park which was the center for freestyle, bohemian behavior. There are police on nearly every corner who enfore the law strictly, no crossingexcept in crosswalks, no littering etc. However, people are feeling that they are living in a police state. So. . .in high crime areas many people may feel safe(r) but others are intimidated by a constant police presence and enforcement of minor violations.
Elizabeth
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>Tobuild-com@spruce.libertynet.org
>Fromxkayden@ucla.edu (Xandra Kayden)
>SubjectReLitter & Crime
>Actually, short of getting the book, the "Broken Windows" approach comes >from an article co-authored by James Q. Wilson in the Atlantic Monthly.
It >is the most requested article from them -- and I think I heard it is on their web page and can be down-loaded. Xandra Kayden
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DateWed, 8 Jul 1998 235031 EDT
FromANACTIVIST@aol.com
SubjectReLitter and Crime (xkayden@ucla.edu (Xandra Kayden)]
And, while you're dredging up old articles, you might as well get Nicholas Lemann's (correct spelling?) "Origins of the Underclass."
If you haven't read this month's Atlantic Monthly, you should get it and read Robert Kaplan's article on America's future. Those of you who don't live in the Southwest will at least get an inkling of the incredible changes happening here. Coming soon (if not already there) to you!
Alma Williams
Phoenix, AZ
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DateWed, 8 Jul 1998 220209 +0000
From"philip" <philip@BALDWiLD.com>
Subject(Fwd) litter and anti-crime
Date Wed, 8 Jul 1998 214924 -0700 (PDT
From Russell Bell <russell@brandx.net>
To philip@baldwild.com
Ms Williams had it a bit off, but forgiveably. 'Broken
Windows' started as an article that got a lot of attention. Either earlier this year or last year they revisited the topic with Wilson's help at the same time that Wilson finally wrote a book using the 'broken windows' phrase in the title, but in the sense of a look backwards. I don't think anyone has proved his thesis, as Ms Williams claims. And many have disputed the claim that it made a difference in NYC, claiming that the decrease in the number of young people and improvement in the economy caused the drop in crime.
Wilson professes at UCLA and may have an institute or study group that would have data.
russell bell
If you could snow, would you?
-- Ron Koertge
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DateThu, 9 Jul 1998 110143 EDT
FromANACTIVIST@aol.com
SubjectRe(Fwd) litter and anti-crime
In a message dated 98-07-09 011037 EDT, you write
<< I don't think anyone has proved his
thesis, as Ms Williams claims.
And many have disputed the claim that it made a difference in NYC, claiming that the decrease in the number of young people and improvement in the economy caused the drop in crime. >>
REPLYCall it 'anecdotal data' if you wish, but any first hand survey of neighborhoods with high crime rates inevitably finds deterioration, blight, trash, litter, and, yes, 'broken windows'.
Improvements in those conditions, plus a priority on low-level street crime will result in lower rates of crime.
Now, does the presence of a large number of teens/young adults matter? Does extreme poverty? Does a high proportion of unemployed people? Yes, they all do. No one strategy works all by
itself. I doubt any serious thinker would believe that. However, it is useless to hack away at crime in a blighted, trash-ridden slum.
Alma Williams
Phoenix, AZ
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