Dados is one of the most widely-read social sciences journals in Latin America. Created in 1966, it publishes innovative works, originating from academic research, by Brazilian and foreign authors. Edited by IESP-UERJ, it aims to reconcile scientific rigor and academic excellence with an emphasis on public debate based on the analysis of substantive issues of society and politics.
Dados vol. 47 n. 2 Rio de Janeiro 2004
Abstract
This paper discusses the unification of the Brazilian military and civilian police forces, concentrating the empirical references from previous studies on the police forces in the States of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro. The approach does not focus on the efficiency of such a strategy in terms of crime control. Rather, the main preoccupation is with its legitimacy, as understood by the theory of organizations. Especially useful for this purpose is the concept of institutional field. The conclusion is that there is an incomplete institutionalization of the police field in Brazil. Throughout history, police forces have responded mostly to institutional demands from other fields, notably those of justice and defense. From this perspective, the unification proposal can be understood as an attempt to transform the nature of institutional demands directed towards police organizations.
Keywords: police, unification, institutional field, organizations, police reform
DOI: 10.1590/S0011-52582004000200003
Institutional aspects of police unification in Brazil
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