The article examines the “broken windows” theory as one of the significant criminological concepts of crime prevention. The approach developed by J. Wilson and G. Kelling is based on the assumption that indifference to minor offences, visible signs of dis

Abstract

The article examines the “broken windows” theory as one of the significant criminological concepts of crime prevention. The approach developed by J. Wilson and G. Kelling is based on the assumption that indifference to minor offences, visible signs of disorder and social disorganization may gradually create an atmosphere of permissiveness, thereby generating conditions conducive to the commission of more serious crimes. The study analyzes foreign models of applying this concept and assesses the possibility of its use in the Republic of Uzbekistan, taking into account national law enforcement practice and data provided by law enforcement agencies. Particular attention is paid to contemporary institutional reforms in the fields of criminology and public security, including the establishment of specialized research institutions aimed at developing scientifically grounded approaches to crime prevention. The analysis of official statistical and analytical materials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan shows that measures aimed at improving the urban environment, strengthening control over public order, ensuring the early detection of minor offences and eliminating factors of social disorganization have a noticeable preventive effect. In this regard, the “broken windows” theory may be viewed not as a universal model of repressive control, but rather as a methodological basis for developing a comprehensive, targeted and socially oriented system of crime prevention in Uzbekistan.