Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management

1
Strengthening Public Safety and Criminal Justice

• The Argentina ColloquiumApril 20, 2007
• Christopher Stone

2
Understanding Fear of Crime

• Hard data about criminal victimization and fear
  of crime very sparse across Latin America
• In a study of fear of crime in Brazil, Chile, and
  Argentina using 2001 survey data, fear rose with
  victimization and income, but much more with
  rising social, economic, and political insecurity

3
The Promise of Safety and Justice
Society has spoken and we have listened to its
dissatisfaction and anger. Our society was
rightgovernments have only reached partial
solutions in the struggle against crime and we
still have much more to do. Vincente Fox,
following public demonstrations against crime in
Mexico City, 2004
4
The Promise of Safety and Justice
Dealing with crime, violence and corruption
requires a new morality for our new nation.
Indeed, it requires a New Patriotism among
communities, the public and private sectors, and
the security services. Nelson Mandela, opening
of Parliament, 1996
5
The Promise of Safety and Justice

• Force alone cannot be the weapon of the police
  force. The nation looks up to you to be alert,
  tough, decisive, fair, just and humane.
• Manmohan Singh, Speech to Indian Police Service,
  2005

6
The Promise of Safety and Justice
We must build a future where empty rage gives
way to hope. The violence will end. Justice will
be served. Hope will return. George H.W. Bush,
during the rioting that followed the acquittal of
police officers charged with beating Rodney King
7
The Promise of Safety and Justice
Restoring hope to neighborhoods ravaged by crime
is not as difficult as some people make it sound.
It's about using data to understand and target
patterns before crime gets out of control. It's
about harnessing state resources and
concentrating them in places where they can make
a difference. It's about pursuing safety and
justice together. If we work together, I promise
you the tide of violence will turn, justice will
be served, and hope will return to our most
vulnerable communities. Eliot Spitzer, speech to
New York State Chiefs of Police, August 2006
8
Two Strategies To Reduce CrimeWith More or Less
Justice
Less Justice
More Justice
Strategy 1 Remove Criminals from Society
Police Killings Detention without Trial Coerced
Confessions
Prosecution-Led Investigation Prison Sentences
Strategy 2 Remove the Proximate Causes of Crime

• Focused Arrests for Predicate Offenses
• Victim Services Rights
• Employment-Based Sentencing
• Build Public Confidence

Unreviewed Arrests Travel Restrictions Intimidatio
n
9
National Incarceration Rates(per 100,000 pop)
Source International Center for Prison Studies,
World Prison Population List (7th Edition, Jan.
2007)
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Argentinas Incarceration Rate(per 100,000 pop)
Source UN Office of Drugs and Crime