A Libertarian Analysis of “BrokenWindow” Policing

Walter BLOCK

Abstract


Abstract. “Broken window” policing refers to the practice of stopping small relatively unimportant crimes (windows broken by hooligans) so that more serious ones will decrease. If the windows are allowed to be broken, criminals will get the message there is little or nothing to stop them from breaking more serious laws. The present paper looks at this practice from a libertarian point of view, and finds some of it justified, some of it not.

Keywords. Libertarianism, Crime, Safety, Policing.

JEL. H0, K14.


Full Text:


References


Block, W.E. (2002). Accepting government subsidies. Fraser Forum, February, 27.

Block, W.E. (2004). Radical libertarianism: Applying libertarian principles to dealing with the unjust government, Part I.Reason Papers, 27(Fall), 117-133.

Block, W.E. (2006). Radical libertarianism: Applying libertarian principles to dealing with the unjust government, Part II. Reason Papers, 28(Spring), 85-109.

Block, W.E. (2007). Ron Paul and matching funds. www.lewrockwell.com, October 1.

Block, W.E. (2009). The Privatization of Roads and Highways: Human and Economic Factors; Auburn, AL: The Mises Institute.

Block, W.E. (2009a). Libertarian punishment theory: working for, and donating to, the state. Libertarian Papers, 1(17), 1-31.

Block, W.E. (2009b). Toward a libertarian theory of guilt and punishment for the crime of statism. in Hulsmann, Jorg Guido and Stephan Kinsella, eds., Property, Freedom and Society: Essays in Honor of Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Auburn, AL: Ludwig von Mises Institute, pp. 137-148.

Block, W.E. (2010).You are a rotten kid (rent control and libertarianism). www.lewrockwell.com,February 27.

Block, W.E. (2011a). It’s Ayn Rand bashing time, once sgain. . www.lewrockwell.com, February 18.

Block, W.E. (2011b). May a libertarian take money from the government?. www.lewrockwell.com, March 11.

Block, W.E. (2011c). Toward a libertarian theory of guilt and punishment for the crime of statism. Journal of Libertarian Studies, 22, 665-675.

Block, W.E. (2011d) Hoppe, Kinsella and Rothbard II on immigration: A critique.Journal of Libertarian Studies, 22, 593–623.

Block, W.E., &Arakaky, C. (2008). Taking government money for Grad School?.www.lewrockwell.com,May 23.

Block, W., &Barnett W.II. (2008). Continuums. Journal Etica e Politica / Ethics & Politics, 1, 151-166

Calabrisi, M.(2014). Why a medical examiner called Eric Garner’s death a ‘Homicide’. December.

Fischler, S. (2000). Subways of the World. Osceloa, WI: MBI Publishing, Inc.

Fischler, Stan and John Handerson. 2004.The Subway and the City celebrating a Century. New York City: Frank Marriwell.

Gotham G. (2003). A brief history of New York transportation. Jun 9.

Harcourt, B.E. (1998). Reflecting on the subject: A critique of the social influence conception of deterrence, the Broken Windows Theory, and order-maintenance policing New York Style.Michigan Law Review 97(2), 291-389

Hazlitt, H. (2008) [1946]. Economics in One Lesson. Auburn, AL: Mises Institute.

Hood, C.(2004). 722 miles – The Building of the Subways and How They Transformed New York. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Isquith, E. (2014). NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton: ‘Broken windows’ critics ‘just don’t get it’: The former and current head of NYC's police says his zero-tolerance philosophy is what saved the city.” September 11.

Keizer, K., Lindenberg, S., &Steg, L. (2008). The spreading of disorder. Science 12 December: 322(5908), 1681-1685

Kirzner, I.M. (1973). Competition and Entrepreneurship, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Mathias, C.(2014). Calls to end 'broken windows' policing in NYC get lLouder After Garner decision. December 11.

Meyers, J.(2014). 11 facts about the Eric Garner case the media won't tell you. December 4.

Mises, L.(1944). Bureaucracy. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Nozick, R.(1974). Anarchy, State and Utopia, New York: Basic Books,.

Rockwell, L.H.(2000). Legalize drunk driving. www.lewrockwell.com,November 3.

Rothbard, Murray N. 1998 [1982]. The Ethics of Liberty, New York: New York University Press.

Sowell, T. (2014). Are facts obsolete?.townhall.com,December 30.

Wilson, J.Q., & Kelling, G.L.(1982). Broken windows. The Atlantic.March.

Woolridge, W.C. (1970). Uncle Sam the Monopoly Man, New Rochelle, N.Y. Arlington House.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1453/jsas.v2i3.356

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.




....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences - J. Adm. Soc. Sci. - JSAS - www.kspjournals.org

ISSN: 2149-0406

Editor: editor-jsas@kspjournals.org   Secretarial: secretarial@kspjournals.org   Istanbul - Turkey.

Copyright © KSP Library