Question

How does "broken window" theory prevent crime?

Note : This question is related to Criminal Justice system in america.

Answer 1

I will answer the question on the basis of a scenario that will elucidate the theory and its reasons for crime prevention:

Imagine you are walking down a stree that has building with shattered windows, garbage littered across the pavements, and walls with vandal art. What would this scenario instill within an individual. It would seem as though there isn't an instituition and societal norms are absent, which would be interpreted as liberty to act as one wants. This would propel people to smach yet another window, as it doesn't matter. Throw yet another packet, as it is already polluted and paint some more across the walls.

Now, consider a society wherein the road are pristine clean without an iota of garbage, walls pallid, and all the building structures mainatined. This would instil within the person the norms of the society and the view that this coisty 'cares' hence you cannot 'mess' with here.

This of course goes onto explain why crime rates in certain localities is higher than in other, as our immediate environment and our interaction with it does have an impact on our behavior.