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OFFICERS RECEIVE BROKEN WINDOWS THEORY TRAINING

Theory Tackles High Crime Through Quality of Life Issues

Columbia, SC – PalmettoPride, your anti-litter organization, hosted the second annual Broken Windows training seminar today at Seawell's in Columbia.  Nearly 100 officers gathered for the 4 hour-training session led by Lt. Chris Cowan of the Richland County Sheriff's Department.  Law enforcement officers from all over the state attended the training session to hear about new techniques to improve crime in their cities.

The Broken Windows Theory is a holistic approach to law enforcement where focusing on quality of life issues like litter, vandalism and graffiti can help lower high crime rates by making communities safer, cleaner and more involved.  Lt. Cowan has spoken on the subject regionally for various conferences and nationally at the Keep America Beautiful, Inc. National Conference. 

Developed by criminologist Dr. George Kelling and political scientist James Wilson in 1982 in The Atlantic Monthly, the Broken Windows Theory is based on the notion that signs of neighborhood disorder, such as broken windows, litter and derelict vehicles, can lead to disorder and lawlessness.

The theory has been used all over the United States, notably in New York City by then-mayor  Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and locally by the City of North Charleston, Greenville County Sheriff's Department and Richland County Sheriff's Department, to name a few.  The City of North Charleston has reduced crime levels by 35% using their Clean City Sweep, where law enforcement and various codes departments work with neighbors and community groups to clean up neighborhoods, remove junk vehicles and bringing households up to code.

PalmettoPride works with South Carolina Litter Control Association to provide grants and training for officers.  As part of the PalmettoPride Enforcement Grant, all grant recipients must attend a Broken Windows Theory training session.

For more information, please contact Sherryl Jenkins at 803-758-6034.