Abstract

DAMMERT, Lucía. Reform without governing? Institutional challenges of the police in Latin America. Rev. IUS [online]. 2019, vol.13, n.44, pp.89-120.  Epub July 01, 2019. ISSN 1870-2147.  https://doi.org/10.35487/rius.v13i44.2019.444.

The increase in insecurity and crime in Latin America has given the police a central role. Accomplishments are limited and perception is critical to effectiveness. Corruption, abuse of the use of force, slowness and even apathy are some of the characteristics attributed to the police work in practically all the countries of the region. This article reviews the processes of police reform. To this end, it establishes as an articulating axis the capacity of civilian government of the police institutions: the interest and the real possibility on the part of officials and governmental actors to limit the political autonomy of the police, increase transparency, accountability and strengthen the institutional capacity and effectiveness. The results show clear transformations that have strengthened bureaucratic autonomy more than effective civil control. It reforms a lot and governs little.

Keywords : Latin America; police; security; organized crime.

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