James Q. Wilson

James Q. Wilson was an American political scientist and criminologist whose work significantly shaped conservative criminological thought, particularly in the areas of policing, public policy, and moral order. He held academic appointments at institutions such as Harvard University, UCLA, and Pepperdine University. Wilson is most widely known as the co-author of the Broken Windows Theory, which influenced policing strategies in the United States and beyond.

Wilson’s 1982 article Broken Windows: The Police and Neighborhood Safety, co-authored with George L. Kelling, argued that minor signs of disorder—such as broken windows, graffiti, or public intoxication—if left unchecked, can escalate into more serious crime. The Broken Windows Theory provided the intellectual foundation for order maintenance policing, zero tolerance policies, and the proactive regulation of public space. Beyond criminology, Wilson’s work emphasized the role of moral culture, character, and informal social control in maintaining social order. In his book Thinking About Crime (1975), he critiqued rehabilitation-based approaches and advocated for deterrence, incapacitation, and accountability. His ideas contributed to the rise of conservative crime policy in the late 20th century.