Any apparent indicators of crime and civil disorder, such as broken windows, loitering, public drinking, and transportation fare evasion, create an urban atmosphere that promotes even more crime and disorder, according to the broken windows theory. The clear advantage of this theory over many of its criminological forerunners is that, rather than relying on social policy, it permits criminal justice policy efforts to impact change. Throughout the 1990s, the broken windows theory had a significant impact on police policy, which has remained relevant into the twenty-first century. One of the most common criticisms of this theory is that by creating a causal link between disorder and crime, it misinterprets the relationship between the two. Broken windows policing is not expressly employed as a means of managing crime in most major cities today due to its contentious nature. However, remnants of this theory can still be found. Regulating crime is a difficult task, but the broken windows theory offers a method for lowering infractions and maintaining social order
