Essay Name: Community Perception's of Crime Articles: "Broken Windows" by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling and "From Institutional Jobless Ghettos

Community Perception's of Crime A community perception of crime is more important than the actual presence off crime. More officers patrolling a neighborhood on foot than in car gives the presence of safety in that neighborhood. These officers spend time with the community and get to know them. These officers learn to distinguish strangers from "regulars", kicking out strangers as a result. Other cases where neighborhoods that leave a broken window unfix tend to encourage …

…that disturb the "regulars" and portray a presence of safety. The officer's influence on the community can change the neighborhoods perception of crime. If the neighborhood perception of crime is changed the greater the chance that community won't experience acts of vandalism. Other statistics have shown that even if the crime rate has not dropped at all the community still feels safer. Social perception plays a key role in how neighborhoods feel about their community.