Send us Fan Mail The "broken windows" theory suggests that minor signs of disorder, like a broken window, can lead to more serious crime, and its application to law enforcement has been linked to police misconduct. This happens because aggressively policing minor offenses, such as fare-dodging or jaywalking, can lead to stops and arrests of innocent people, potentially causing more harm than the original offenses. The aggressive approach can lead to complaints about police misconduct and has ...