Breaking Broken Windows: A Multivariate Approach to the Effects of Crime and Urban Decline

Broken windows theory suggests that neighborhood disorder, including physical deterioration and large-scale accumulations of graffiti and trash, routinely occur in many urban communities. Research on community disorder suggests that signs of community disorganization and decay increase individuals’ perceived risks of criminal victimization and their subsequent fear of crime. The purpose of this study is to determine whether certain conditions found within communities have an effect on an individual’s level of fear.