Building Social Connections: Future Perspectives

Dr. Michael Beshears

James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, authors of the groundbreaking article, Broken Windows: The Police and Neighborhood Safety, in the March 1982 issue of The Atlantic Monthly, postulated the broken windows thesis that unaddressed disorder is a sign that no one cares and invites both further disorder and more serious crime. By examining the Wilson-Kelling hypothesis in more than 40 cities, Wesley Skogan found that disorder is indeed the first step in what he terms, “the downward spiral of urban decay” (Harcourt, 2001).

Due to the evidence-based practices adopted by community policing, initiatives founded in the ideology of the Broken Windows hypothesis; police leadership began emphasizing enforcing misdemeanor laws and having zero tolerance policing towards minor offenses. Community residents via social capitalism and civic engagement across the nation began responding positively to police-community efforts working together to deter crime. Some may submit this may have been the reason for the marked decline in violent crime across the nation since 1990, (Gramlich, 2019).

[Even though, there is not a peer-reviewed study to cite to support this. It is submitted here the belief that social capitalism and civic engagement across the nation working with law enforcement was the catalysis for the national decrease in violent crime since 1990. In other words, there is no scientific evidence of causation. However, the correlation is too great to totally ignore.]

Nonetheless, Harcourt (2001) has stated: “there is no reason to believe – nor is there any evidence – that the broken windows theory is the mechanism that explains any contribution that the quality-of-life initiative may have made the drop in crime”. Harcourt (2001) also stated that “the primary engine is probably the enhanced power of surveillance offered by a policy of aggressive stops and frisks and misdemeanor arrests”. There is no question that such policing efforts have impacted on the decline in crime since 1990. However, one cannot ignore the contributions of community-policing and the assistance of community residents.

Unfortunately, in recent years social capitalism and civic engagement have allegedly drastically declined. From past generations where interaction and community involvement were common to the new generations where technology dominates the world and social interaction is highly uncommon. Putnam, (as cited in, Smith, 2007) stated, that over the last three decades of the twentieth century there has been a fundamental shift in political and civic engagement, informal social ties, as well as tolerance and trust.

The bowling alone phenomenon refers to a striking decline in social capital and civic engagement in the United States.
The broken window phenomenon suggests that if it appears “no one cares,” disorder and crime will thrive.

Putnam also found, (as cited in Smith, 2007), changes in family structure, suburban sprawl, and electronic entertainment are all factors of the decline in social capitalism and civic engagement. “However, generational change came out as a very significant factor. A “long civic generation,” born in the first third of the twentieth century is now passing from the American scene. ‘Their children and grandchildren (baby boomers and Generation X-ers) are aging and are much less engaged in most forms of community life”, (as cited in Smith, 2007, republished in Infed, para. 38).

Looking historically at society one can clearly wonder if future generations may be lacking even more than baby boomers and Generation X-ers when it comes to forming social bonds. In generations past, holidays would have many more family members gathered, neighborhoods would have more kids playing, and communities would be working together and would know each other. Technology has placed an invisible wall up pertaining to meaningful, face-to-face personal interaction. Family members call or video chat during holidays rather than visit, kids are inside playing video games or watching TV instead of playing outside, and most people don’t even truly know who their neighbors are.

One only need to observe when friends and family come to visit how often, they’re clueless to their surroundings because they are too busy staring at their phones. Some scholars submit social interaction is becoming scarce and allegedly the upcoming population lacks interpersonal communication skills. This may have a negative impact on community policing in a huge way because without the community, there can be no community policing strategy. Unfortunately, there are still those who will look the other way because it’s not their problem, yet, thereby preventing intervention. The illusion is that society is socially at the present intact.

It’s not.

References

Gramlich, J. (January 2019). 5 facts about crime in the U.S. Fact Tank. Pew Research
Center. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/01/03/5-facts-about-crime-in-the-u-s/

Harcourt, B. E. (2001). Illusion of order: The false promise of broken windows policing.
Harvard University Press.

Smith, M. K. (2007). Robert Putnam, social capital and civic community. The
Encyclopedia of Informal Education. Republished website, Infed. Retrieved from
http://infed.org/mobi/robert-putnam-social-capital-and-civic-community/

Dr. Michael Beshears

Dr. Beshears has an associate degree in general studies and a dual baccalaureate degree in criminal justice and psychology from Drury University. In addition, he has three graduate degrees, one in criminology from Indiana State University and another in health services management from Webster University. Plus, an additional 18 graduate hours in public administration. His Ph.D. is in business with a specialization in criminal justice from Northcentral University. Dr. Beshears after 22 years of honorable service retired from the United States Army in 1998, at the rank of Master Sergeant. While on active duty he was the Non-commissioned Officer of the Year at 2 different commands and an Army Leadership Academy Honor Graduate. As a civilian, he has worked with the local sheriff’s department, state drug task force and FBI. Dr. Beshears has acquired over 20 years of teaching experience in the traditional and online teaching environment. He has an extensive background and first-hand experience in online andragogy instruction, as one of the first Internet (online) course developers and instructors. Since 1994, he has instructed 10,000+ online and traditional students in criminal justice, corrections, and management. He has mentored numerous colleagues in the skills required to instruct online while promoting student success. Dr. Beshears resides with his wife Dr. Michelle Beshears, their son Hunter, and daughter Malia near Norfork and Bull Shoals Lakes, in Clarkridge, Arkansas. He also has three beautiful grown daughters Michele, Cora, and Mollye.