Why “Broken Windows” Have Become “Broken Necks”: Explaining the Rise of Urban Killings by Police

• In Event: Examining Race and Situational Context in Officer-Involved Killings

Abstract

Kelling and Wilson argue, in their “broken windows” article (1982), that one broken window left unrepaired shows “nobody cares about that block.” Once more windows get broken, it signals “nobody cares” about that neighborhood; then, drug use and panhandling increase, and the whole block becomes compromised. Police, thus, must intervene and prevent such infractions, declaring that these behaviors will not be tolerated.

To combat this “broken windows” threat, the police adopted broad “stop and frisk” policies that openly put the comfort of other citizens ahead of the rights of Blacks and Latinos, the most frequent targets of such tactics. I argue this is a different sort of “broken window.” As these constitutional violations went unchecked, eventually, some police grew more violent to the point where the murder of young black men became increasingly common. Thus, many people of color no longer feel safe on the street, fearing harassment -- or worse -- from the police and, sometimes, private citizens who have taken the law into their own hands, feeling impunity for their actions. Suggested remedies include expanded litigation against police departments, and increased meaningful training on how to de-escalate these incidents.

Author

• Alexander Perlin, Brooklyn Defender Services