Policies and their contributing theories
Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most well-known crime prevention programs in the world. The modern day concept of program became popular in the late 1960s in response to an increasing burglary rate, the beginnings of Neighborhood Watch can be traced back to the days of first Colonial settlements, when night watchmen patrolled the streets.
The modern version of the Neighborhood Watch Program was developed as a result of the several requests from sheriffs and police chiefs around the country who were looking for a crime prevention program that would include citizen involvement and address the increasing number of burglaries taking place, especially in rural and suburban areas. In 1972, the National Sheriffs' Association took the concept a step further by seeking funding to make the program a national initiative. The funding came from a grant from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.
Now in criminology, the broken windows theory is based on the 1982 work of political scientist Dr. James Q. Wilson and American criminologist Dr. George L. Kelling. The theory implies that a closely monitored neighborhood that has a “zero tolerance” for petty crimes, creates a climate or order, safety, and lawfulness that prevents more serious crime from occurring.
When the broken windows theory was introduced, it changed policing strategies and tactics. Unlike most other criminology theories that develop over long periods, the broken windows theory was immediately adopted by law enforcement. The broken window theory helped establish new law enforcement policies with little to no cost involved in its implementation.
In the 1994, New York Police Commissioner William Bratton used the broken windows theory to initiate an aggressive enforcement campaign to reduce the escalating crime rate in the city. The policy introduced by Commissioner Bratton was the quality of life initiative based on the broken windows theory.
When Commissioner Bratton left office just two short years later, the crime rate had reduced in New York City. The NYPD reported a reduction in felony crimes by 40% and the city homicide rate had dropped by 50% in just two years of the quality of life initiative being in place.
The broken windows theory of policing that has created a “zero tolerance” policy for minor crimes has been highly controversial in major urban areas such as New York City and Washington, DC. Many community leaders in urban areas have argued that the broken window theory is racist in nature because of the strategies used such as the “Stop & Frisk” tactics in poor minority neighborhoods.

Routine Activities Theory

The routine activities theory was introduced in 1979 by L. E. Cohen and M. Felson in the American sociological review this influential paper helped to introduce routine activity theory to criminology world. The theory states that there must be three things present for crime to occur at the same time and in the same space, a suitable target is available, there is the lack of a suitable guardian to prevent the crime from happening, and a likely and motivated offender is present.
Now such programs as the Midnight basketball leagues, police athletic leagues, and even Drug awareness resistance education programs can be tied to the routine activities theory Midnight basketball leagues can provide the opportunity for