Editing Broken windows theory (section)

===Lowell, Massachusetts===
In 2005, [[Harvard University]] and [[Suffolk University]] researchers worked with local police to identify 34 "crime hot spots" in [[Lowell, Massachusetts]]. In half of the spots, authorities cleared trash, fixed streetlights, enforced building codes, discouraged [[loitering|loiterers]], made more [[misdemeanor]] arrests, and expanded [[community mental health service|mental health services]] and aid for the [[homeless]]. In the other half of the identified locations, there was no change to routine police service.

The areas that received additional attention experienced a 20% reduction in calls to the police. The study concluded that cleaning up the physical environment was more effective than misdemeanor arrests.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.suffolk.edu/34417.html |publisher=Suffolk University |title=Research Boosts Broken Windows |access-date=2009-02-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629171649/http://www.suffolk.edu/34417.html |archive-date=2009-06-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/08/breakthrough_on_broken_windows/ |title=Breakthrough on 'broken windows' |access-date=2009-02-20 |work=The Boston Globe |first=Carolyn Y |last=Johnson |date=2009-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211072903/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/08/breakthrough_on_broken_windows/ |archive-date=2009-02-11}}</ref>