Community policing in Brazil: Challenges and prospects

The focus of this study are the existing community policing programs in nine Brazilian states (Alagoas, Bahia, Distrito Federal, Goias, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo) which underwent training of public safety professionals guided by the philosophy and organizational strategy of community policing (Koban system) provided from a technical cooperation agreement established in 2008 between Brazil and Japan and involved the National Secretariat of Public Security, the Sao Paulo State Military Police and the Technical Cooperation Agencies of Brazil (ABC/SRM) and Japan (JICA). From mixed methods (consultation of documents, direct observation, interviews and focus groups), it was analyzed: a) the teaching material used in training courses, b) the involvement of actors responsible for state public security management in implementing community policing programs, c) the characteristics of the routines and processes of community safety stations, d) the methodology of work and the public served, e) the interaction of the actions of community policing with social programs and other actors involved in building security, both public safety professionals and representatives from local communities. This strategy allowed us to scale the difficulties, obstacles and challenges identified in the various selected experiences and to identify effects of community policing programs to implement policies to prevent violence.