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Shattering "Broken Windows": An Analysis of San Francisco's Alternative Crime Policies

The crime fighting theory of "broken windows" states that "if the first broken window in a building is not repaired, then people who like breaking windows will assume that no one cares about the building and more windows will be broken. Soon the building will have no windows . . . (p. 1). In action this equates to a zero tolerance law enforcement policy. While "broken windows" policy has been cited for the reason New York City has experienced a drop in violent crime, San Francisco has adopted a strategy of alternative sentences and community involvement that has resulted in greater violent crime decreases than NYC. In fact, San Francisco experienced declining misdemeanor and felony arrest rates, while NYC had increased arrest rates of this sort. Accession Number: 015841

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