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STOP THE VIOLENCE IN LATIN AMERICA: A Look at Prevention from Cradle to Adulthood

Laura Chioda

  • 9 March 2018
  • Posted by: Nicolas Devia
  • Number of views: 1523
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STOP THE VIOLENCE IN LATIN AMERICA: A Look at Prevention from Cradle to Adulthood

The present report studies the dynamics of crime and violence in the region: their causes, characteristics and rationale, as well as the policies designed to combat them. Rather than being a homogeneous phenomenon throughout the region, violence and crime rates vary drastically between States and even more at the subnational level. Small municipalities account for the majority of offenses committed in the whole region. Gender and age determine as well the probability of engaging in criminal/violent activities (or being a victim of them): were young, male citizens find themselves into the most vulnerable populations. Contrary to the common thinking, poverty per se doesn’t lead to higher rates of violence and/or crime. On the contrary, economic development at a certain point increases the benefits for offenders to engage in criminal activities. Studies show that policies focused on reactive response to criminal activities and to the augmentation of incarcerated population are ineffective and sometimes could backfire. Instead, comprehensive policies that understand the heterogeneous and complex nature of crime by focusing on prevention, often show better results.

Toward a safer Latin America: A new perspective for crime prevention and control

Toward a safer Latin America: A new perspective for crime prevention and control

This year’s Report on Economics and Development (RED) proposes an approach for the analysis of insecurity in which crime results from decisions made by individuals in a particular situation. While it is true that beliefs, perceptions, self-control, and other personality traits (in turn shaped by family experiences, education level, job opportunities, and other experiences throughout the life cycle) can tip an individual into crime, his physical and social environment, the incentives provided by illegal markets (e.g., drugs), and the credibility and efficiency of the criminal justice system are also important. 

 

Handbook on the crime prevention guidelines Making them work

  • 23 January 2017
  • Posted by: Jane Piazer
  • Number of views: 4710
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Handbook on the crime prevention guidelines Making them work
All countries strive to ensure safety and security for their citizens and to increase the quality of their lives. The guidelines on crime prevention developed by the United Nations incorporate and build on years of experience and experiments in responding to these problems. Such experience has shown that countries can build safer communities using practical, concrete approaches that are very different from, and less costly than repressive and deterrent reactions and responses.

National Citizen Security and Coexistance Policy and Implementation Strategy

  • 25 November 2016
  • Posted by: Jane Piazer
  • Number of views: 5411
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National Citizen Security and Coexistance Policy and Implementation Strategy was established by the Government of Colombia in 2011. The documento contemplates a social prevention and situational prevention chapter.

Compendium of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice

  • 1 November 2016
  • Posted by: Jane Piazer
  • Number of views: 5389
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Compendium of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice

Criminal justice systems differ from one country to the other and their response to antisocial behaviors is not always homogeneous. However, over the years the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice have provided a collective vision of how criminal justice system should be structured.

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