Pockets of Crime: Broken Windows, Collective Efficacy, and the Criminal Point of View

by Peter K. B. St. Jean

Why, even in the same high-crime neighborhoods, do robbery, drug dealing, and assault occur much more frequently on some blocks than on others? One popular theory is that a weak sense of community among neighbors can create conditions more hospitable for criminals, and another proposes that neighborhood disorder—such as broken windows and boarded-up buildings—makes crime more likely. But in his innovative new study, Peter K. B. St. Jean argues that we cannot fully understand the impact of these factors without considering that, because urban space is unevenly developed, different kinds of crimes occur most often in locations that offer their perpetrators specific advantages.

Drawing on Chicago Police Department statistics and extensive interviews with both law-abiding citizens and criminals in one of the city’s highest-crime areas, St. Jean demonstrates that drug dealers and robbers, for example, are primarily attracted to locations with businesses like liquor stores, fast food restaurants, and check-cashing outlets. By accounting for these important factors of spatial positioning, he expands upon previous research to provide the most comprehensive explanation available of why crime occurs where it does.

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2007

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Repetitive, could have been one chapter long, but was interesting

[Jason Waltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

chpts 1-4 are pretty darn strong, with good explanation and examination and all told rather well. the remaining chpts are a college paper written by a college student struggling to nail word count through repeating himself as many times as possbile.

there are good findings shared in those opening chpts, and I find much to agree with on his premise that broken windows and collective efficacy aren't the all-solutions they're touted as. this book looks at why certain locations become specific hot spots of law enforcement resource consumption and determines it is more than cosmetics and feelings.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

discussion of broken window theory, physical and social disorder, collective efficacy, and ecological (dis)advantage in relation to drug dealing, robbery, and assault.

ecological advantage (for bad guys) most important for "hotspots" of crime.

low areas of physical/social disorder and high collective efficacy generally correspond to lower levels of crime.

areas of high physical/social disorder and low collective efficacy generally do not necessarily predict high levels of crime.

[Timothy D. Cook, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting material for those involved in modern policing and problem solving

Both challenges and builds on the theories of broken windows and collective efficacy. Definitely a good read with some interesting points of view to consider.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. I really wanted to like this book. I was hoping for an ethnography. It is not. It is much more sociological reporting. Facts are fine but I prefer a story telling method.