broken windows

English

Noun

broken windows (uncountable)

1. Ellipsis of broken windows theory.
   • 1999 November, Robert J. Sampson, Stephen W. Raudenbush, “Systematic Social Observation of Public Spaces: A New Look at Disorder in Urban Neighborhoods”, in American Journal of Sociology, volume 105, number 3, page 637:

     […] observed disorder did not match the theoretical expectations set up by the main thesis of "broken windows." Disorder is a moderate correlate of predatory crime, and it varies consistently with antecedent neighborhood characteristics.

2. Ellipsis of broken windows policing.
   • 2000 April 10, Jeffrery Rosen, “Excessive Force”, in The New Republic‎:

     Broken windows has helped reduce crime in cities across the nation. Zero tolerance has undermined the popular support upon which effective crime-fighting ultimately relies.