Broken Windows Theory, Essay Example

The first research question I would like to explore is if “broken windows” theory really does have an effect on certain areas of a community? I find broken windows theory very interesting in terms of how some of us believe that our physical environment around us can dictate the likelihood of crime. I would also like to learn if the members of a community in which these “broken windows” are present do truly feel a sense of fear? I am a supporter of Wilson and Kellings broken windows theory. I believe if you are to allow an area of a community to give the appearance that nobody cares (i.e. a vacant house occupied by drug addicts) that it will invite possibly more serious crimes like robbery or assault. It seems by the community ignoring a certain area that it will increase the chances of different crimes to occur creating possibly a snowball effect. The sources to my beliefs are from reading different police reports through school and work, many of these individuals who are being locked up come from high poverty areas that present not a nice visual to reside. Another source that has me believing broken windows theory is through television documentaries. I have watched documentaries that display certain drug epidemics and the amount of crimes being so high, particularly in large metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and New York City in the 80’s and early 90’s. I am not old enough to remember these incidents when they were occurring in this country, but from what I saw in the documentaries the incidents were happening in low income poverty stricken neighborhoods.

A second research question that I would be interested in exploring is the usage of intelligence analysis. According to Hagan on page 13, intelligence analysis “aids the determination of who’s doing what with whom by its focus on the relationships between persons and organizations involved in illegal and usually conspiratorial activities (narcotics trafficking, prostitution rings, organized crime, gangs, terrorism, etc.).” What I would like to know is how different law enforcements go about the techniques of successfully gathering valid intelligence about different crime groups. To build up a strong case against a certain crime group it must take a great deal of time with a number of steps. I would like to know how the process would be structured and if there are certain dates to when assignments have to be completed. Some beliefs that I have about the practice of intelligence analysis is that it seems like a difficult process but a rewarding one if you can have a crime group convicted and sent to prison. I would imagine that you must be very precise when gathering intelligence from a certain source, generally being an informant. During my undergrad I did an internship with a police department just outside of Boston with the detective bureau. During one of my nights interning I was told that I was going to be able to sit on a briefing for a drug raid operation that was going to take place about an hour after the meeting. This was a good experience to learn a little bit about intelligence analysis that was gathered to take down some individuals who were selling large amounts of narcotics in one location. Through my current job I also read different letters that are sent out by local law enforcement agencies containing different forms of intelligence analysis.