Public security and kidnappings in Rio de Janeiro (1995-1996)

Abstract

Abduction and detention of a person for ransom (kidnapping), a crime committed generally by gangs, has become a serious problem and challenge to public safety and police action. The high incidence of kidnappings, their dramatic ocurrence and their repercussions on public opinion and image of the city of Rio, have made this offense and outstanding point of reference for social and political debate on organized crime, Kidnappings have motivated public protests, including in part, the huge demonstration Reage Rio (a peace march). This paper strives to be contextual. It discusses the public safety policy of the Sate of Rio de Janeiro in view of the project of a business-oriented, international city, desired by the entrepreneurial and political elite. It focuses on the rising "law and order" movement and the anti-kipnapping police efforts. Finally, it reveals data collected in  on-going research project that attempts to study criminal conduct commonly associated with "organized crime", such as kidnappings, illegal drug trafficking and bank robberies, in order to eventually, help formulating more effective and democratic public safety policy.