NCJ Number
46343
Journal
International Review of Criminal Policy Issue: 33 Dated: (1977) Pages: 3-10
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE POLICE FORCES OF BRAZIL ARE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL TO ILLUSTRATE THE PRESSURES POORLY TRAINED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS OPERATING WITHIN AN INADEQUATE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE FACE IN A RAPIDLY MODERNIZING SOCIETY.
Abstract
THE CALL FOR REFORM OF THE RIO DE JANEIRO POLICE FORCE IS STRONG BECAUSE THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE WHICH WERE ADEQUATE FOR A CITY OF 500,000 ARE HOPELESSLY INADEQUATE FOR THE MODERN CITY OF 4.3 MILLION WHICH IS GROWING AT A RATE OF 4 PERCENT ANNUALLY. THE REAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IS NOT IN THE CITY ITSELF, BUT IN THE SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS ON THE FRINGES. ONE SUCH PRECINCT, NOVA IGUACU, HAS 1,038,000 PEOPLE AND, IN THE FIRST 8 MONTHS OF 1974, REPORTED 178 HOMICIDES, 973 ASSAULTS , AND 326 ROBBERIES. THE ACTUAL CRIME RATE WAS PROBABLY MUCH HIGHER. TO HANDLE THESE FRINGE AREAS, THE CITY AND COUNTY POLICE FORCES HAVE BEEN MERGED INTO A UNIFIED FORCE. THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT SOLVED. THIS SMALL OFFICE IN 1 YEAR HAD 2,900 UNSOLVED INVESTIGATIONS. THIS IS BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS 1 POLICEMAN PER 1,700 PEOPLE, PATROL OFFICERS HAVE NO TRAINING IN INVESTIGATION AND OFTEN ACCIDENTALLY DESTROY EVIDENCE, AND INVESTIGATORS WORK INDEPENDENTLY WITH NO STRUCTURE FOR PASSING RESULTS TO EACH OTHER OR TO A SUCCESSOR. RECORDKEEPING IS POOR, COMPUTERS AND OTHER SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUES ARE NOT EXTENSIVELY USED BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE EXPENSIVE PERSONNEL. MORALE ON THE FORCE IS LOW BECAUSE OF LOW SALARIES (MANY LOWER-LEVEL OFFICERS AUGMENT INCOMES BY DRIVING TAXIS WHILE HIGHER-LEVEL OFFICERS GO TO LAW SCHOOL AND SET UP THEIR OWN PRACTICES), LACK OF SOLID MORAL AND SCIENTIFIC CRITERIA FOR RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTION OF PERSONNEL, LACK OF RESOURCES TO SUPPORT ROUTINE WORK, LACK OF A CODE OF ETHICS, AND LACK OF PUBLIC COOPERATION. THE FEDERAL AND MILITARY POLICE ARE THE ELITE OF THE COUNTRY'S FORCES. HOWEVER, THE CIVIL POLICE ARE INDEED POORLY PAID AND POORLY TRAINED AND ARE NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE RISING CRIME RATES ASSOCIATED WITH RAPID URBANIZATION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION. TO COMPOUND MATTERS, THE RULING SOCIAL CLASS OFTEN VIEWS THE POLICE AS A MEANS OF ENFORCING THE STATUS QUO. POLICE OFFICIALS ARE OFTEN APPOINTED BECAUSE THEY HAVE HELD HIGH MILITARY RANK OR ARE FROM IMPORTANT FAMILIES, NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN INTEREST IN AND TRAINING FOR POLICE WORK. REFORMS ARE BEING PROMOTED, INCLUDING A POLICE ACADEMY, MORE MODERN EQUIPMENT, AND A SYSTEM WHEREBY A PATROL CAR CAN CALL IN AND CHECK ON A VAGRANCY SUSPECT TO SEE IF HE HAS A CRIMINAL RECORDS. HOWEVER, THE VARIOUS CIVIL POLICE FORCES WILL NOT BE UP TO THE DEMANDS OF CONTEMPORARY BRAZIL UNTIL THE PROCESS OF 'BUREAUCRATIZATION', (I.E., THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE) IS ACHIEVED. RECRUITMENT MUST ALSO BE IMPROVED AND A PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE ENCOURAGED, BEGINNING WITH THOSE AT THE TOP. (GLR)