What is “Broken Windows”?
In 1982, political scientist James Q. Wilson and criminologist George Keeling published an article in the Atlantic Monthly outlining their “Broken Windows Theory”. The Broken Windows Theory states, “If a window in a building is broken and left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken… one unrepaired window is a signal that no one cares and so breaking more windows will cost nothing.”The Broken Window is a metaphor for any disorderly behaviour or minor crime. Broken Windows Theory postulates that if disorderly behaviour in a community goes unaddressed, it signals that nobody cares about the community, resulting in citizen fear and more serious disorder and crime.Broken Windows Theory is the basis for the Community Standards Bylaw. The bylaw is largely aimed at physical disorders – particularly property related ones – taking “broken windows” quite literally. It is based on the notion that a well maintained, cared for community instills a sense of pride in its residents
