thumb|upright=1.3|Broken windows of the [[Stehli Silks|Stehli Silk Mill in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
In criminology, the broken windows theory states that visible signs of crime, antisocial behavior and civil disorder create an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder, including serious crimes. It was popularized in the 1990s by New York City police commissioner William Bratton, whose policing policies were influenced by the theory.
The theory became subject to debate both within the social sciences and the public sphere. Broken windows policing has been enforced with successful but controversial police practices, such as the frequent use of stop-and-frisk in New York City in the decade up to 2013.
Article and crime prevention
James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling first introduced the broken windows theory in an article titled "Broken Windows", in the March 1982 issue of The Atlantic Monthly: