Racial Disparity and Its Relation to the Broken Windows

Proposed in 1982, Wilson and Kellings broken windows theory suggests that disorder in
an environment influences delinquent behavior and crime. The broken windows theory mainly
focuses on social cohesion and law and order. As a result of their proposal of the broken
windows theory, law enforcement was focused specifically on cleaning up areas in which
disorders were present. The implementation of the theory, however, influenced major racial
disparities among community (Ranasinghe, 2012). In this context, racial disparity is a term that
refers to a difference in how a certain race is being treated, which may be related to
discrimination. Areas with high crime rates are mostly correlated with high poverty levels that,
during that time, were mostly affixed with African-Americans (Ranasinghe, 2012). When the
theory was applied, unfair targets on these citizens living in poverty increased.
The correlation between race and crime is currently unknown and there might not even
be any relation at all. Race identification is essentially social classification, not biological
categorization, because we are all genetically born alike. Only our appearance and skin color
are different. Thinking logically, race should not cause crime, however, some people are
convicted based partially or even fully on their race. To support this, Welch says, The
stereotyping of Blacks as criminals is so pervasive throughout society that criminal predator is
used as a euphemism for young Black male (Welch, 2007). This police stereotyping is
something we see more often in todays society. With the media becoming larger and more
prevalent, society has become accustomed to seeing certain racial groups constantly being
arrested (Welch, 2007). Police officers are known for using race as an excuse for criminal
propensity, they consider race in their decision on arrests (Roberts, 1999). Since law
enforcement is particularly important for the broken windows theory to work, how does
applying this theory cause racial disparity amongst communities? This disproportionate
representation of racial minorities remains a source of considerable concern, which in turn
leads to additional problems with discrimination in criminal judgement.
Racial and ethnic differences in communities have been present for a significant portion
of the modern age. It is true that some African-Americans and other racial groups are involved
in crime in general. In more recent years, however, there is a substantial difference between
the percentages of said racial groups in the population compared to the percentages of the
same groups represented in the justice process (Welch, 2007). Previous studies show that
Blacks or African-Americans are more likely than any other racial group to be described as
violent and most likely to engage in crimes. The results from the studies were simply survey
results taken from the general population. Adding on to this, as Ranasignhe stated, African-
Americans were the poorest during that era (Ranasignhe, 2012). The broken windows theory
states that in poor neighborhoods, disorder is present and disorder is the prerequisite of crime.
The media portrayal of these racial groups as violent characters as well as portraying them in
film and music as such may have strengthened the association the public may make between
the racial group and crime. Implementing the broken windows theory would cause additional
problems for them not only because of stereotypes but also because of their economic status,
as locations where they live in are especially prone to disorder which influences delinquent
behavior and crime.
One major and important source of racial stereotyping of criminals is from the presence
of African-Americans in the justice process. If more of the same racial groups were repeatedly
seen being judged for crimes, it would be understandable that the public may unconsciously or
maybe even consciously, assume that they are prone to criminal behavior. This is the beginning
of a stereotype being developed. In society, many African-Americans have been subjected to
the social norms of how African-Americans are presumed to have deviant behavior and are
prone to committing crimes. Law enforcement also enforces these norms and many African-
Americans are treated differently compared to the white population (Roberts, 1994). Studies on
race and crime sentencing shows that young African-Americans or Blacks are sentenced more
than others of other racial background (Welch, 2007). This may lead to lawyers and other
prosecutors taking advantage of this stereotyping by characterizing them as being a violent
criminal, which results in higher conviction rates and may perhaps enforce stereotyping.
After the implementation of the broken windows theory in New York, many have
embraced the broken windows theory as part of explanation of deterrence for criminal law
(Roberts, 1999). Roberts explains how laws sometimes incorporate racist social norms that help
to perpetuate stereotypes of certain racial groups criminality and this may be an indirect effect
of the broken windows theory. Many people believe that African-Americans are people who are
most prone to violence and make racial-based assumptions of the danger posed when
encountering them. There was a time when slavery was in place and stereotypes that
originated back then possibly perpetuated to the modern age through media. Roberts writes,
The myth of Black criminality is part of a belief system deeply embedded in American culture
that is premised on the superiority of whites and inferiority of Blacks (Roberts, 1999).
Order-maintenance policing is connected with arrests. Roberts further explains, Giving
the police broad authority to arrest based on mere suspicion increases the likelihood that
they will find evidence of more serious crimes (Roberts, 1999). Imagine what happens
when the police operates in a racially biased way. Targeting certain races eventually results
in higher rates of arrests and the result is strengthening the stereotype that said racial
group is associated with criminal acts. Order-maintenance policing may not have racist
intentions but it certainly has racist outcomes as instead of providing everyone with
equality; it marks certain racial groups as criminals just from their skin color.
Does the broken windows theory actually cause racial disparity among individuals?
Whether or not it does, it should be acknowledged that there is racial disparity present in
communities. There are many problems that the theory does not explain. Social norms
influence criminal judgement more than people think it does. Social norms support order-
maintenance policing drastically affects the arrest on an individual of a certain racial group. The
difficult question and problem is how much protection we can give to these targeted racial
groups to ensure equality of all people regardless of race. Removal of stereotypes and social
norms might be impossible, as it would be difficult to change how people think of certain races.
With these two major sources still present in society, racial disparity may exist with or without
the broken windows theory. More research and ideas are needed to find a way to ensure racial
disparity is minimized. I believe we are all born alike on the inside and skin colour should not be
a determinant of crime and violent behavior. Humans should all be equal and those who
commit crimes should be punished for it.



References:
Ranasinghe, Prashan. Jane Jacobs Framing of Public Disorder and its Relation to the
Broken Windows Theory. Theoretical Criminology 16.1 (2012): 62-84.
Wilson, James Q., and George L. Kelling. Broken Windows. Atlantic Magazine (1982).
Roberts, Dorothy (Spring 1999). Foreword: Race, Vagueness, and the Social Meaning of
Order Maintenance Policing. The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. 3 89: 775-836.
Welch, K. "Black Criminal Stereotypes and Racial Profiling." Journal of Contemporary
Criminal Justice 23.3 (2007): 276-88. Print.