Cláudio Chaves Beato Filho

Homicide clusters and drug traffic in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil from 1995 to 1999

The article presents a spatial analysis of homicides in Belo Horizonte according to the Minas Gerais Military Police records from 1995 to 1999. The authors identify clusters of high mortality risk and relate them to areas with drug traffic and associated violence. SaTScan software is used to locate the clusters.

Impacto do Programa Fica Vivo na redução dos homicídios em comunidade de Belo Horizonte

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of a homicide prevention program. METHODS A quasi-experimental study was performed using time series analysis of homicide incidence in the Morro das Pedras area in the city of Belo Horizonte, Southeastern Brazil, from 2002 to 2006. The number of homicides occurring in this location was compared to other violent and non-violent favelas and to other neighborhoods of the city, during each of the Program phases. To test the hypothesis that homicide reduction was caused by the actions implemented by the program, a statistical model was developed based on generalized linear models. RESULTS In the first six months a 69% reduction in the number of homicides was obtained. During the other Program periods, the effect on the reduction of homicides lessened, but the difference among coefficients compared to the initial period was not statistically significant. Even with full Program implementation, the effect continued to be similar to the previous periods, probably because the program was implemented in other violent favelas in the city. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the Staying Alive Program model can be an important alternative for the prevention of youth homicides in communities that have characteristics similar to the pilot program in Morro das Pedras.OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto de programa de prevencao de homicidios. METODOS: Com base nos dados do Programa Fica Vivo, de prevencao de homicidios, foi realizado um estudo quase experimental com analise de series temporais da ocorrencia de homicidios no aglomerado Morro das Pedras, em Belo Horizonte, MG, de 2002 a 2006. Comparou-se o numero de homicidios ocorridos nessa localidade com os de outras favelas violentas e nao violentas e outros bairros da cidade, em cada uma das fases do Programa. Para testar a hipotese de que a reducao dos homicidios resultou das acoes implementadas pelo Programa, foi elaborado um modelo estatistico baseado em modelos lineares generalizados. RESULTADOS: Nos primeiros seis meses obteve-se 69% de reducao no numero medio de homicidios. Nos periodos de refluxo e retomada parcial do Programa, o efeito de reducao dos homicidios diminuiu, mas a diferenca entre coeficientes com aquele do periodo inicial nao foi estatisticamente significante. Mesmo com a retomada integral do Programa, o efeito continuou similar aos dos periodos anteriores, provavelmente porque o Programa foi implantado em outras favelas violentas da cidade. CONCLUSOES: Os resultados apontam que o modelo do Programa Fica Vivo pode constituir uma importante alternativa para prevencao de homicidios contra jovens em comunidades que apresentem caracteristicas semelhantes as da experiencia piloto no Morro das Pedras.

Ecologia social do medo: avaliando a associação entre contexto de bairro e medo de crime

The association between the structural characteristics of a neighborhood and indicators of crime and disorder has received increasing attention from studies in criminology in recent years. Recent studies have emphasized the relationship between the contextual characteristics of neighborhoods and the fear of crime. In this paper we define fear of crime as a negative emotional reaction toward crime. We then seek to incorporate individual characteristics as related to neighborhood contexts in search of empirical evidence as to their “social ecology.” A multilevel regression model was developed using the Victimization Survey, conducted by the Centre for Studies in Crime and Public Safety - CRISP / UFMG. We found a positive association between women with higher fear rates and the fact of being elderly, although residential stability has an opposite effect. At the neighborhood level, the main result was that social cohesion affects the association between crime rates and fear of crime.

Impact of the Staying Alive Program on the reduction of homicides in a community in Belo Horizonte

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of a homicide prevention program. METHODS A quasi-experimental study was performed using time series analysis of homicide incidence in the Morro das Pedras area in the city of Belo Horizonte, Southeastern Brazil, from 2002 to 2006. The number of homicides occurring in this location was compared to other violent and non-violent favelas and to other neighborhoods of the city, during each of the Program phases. To test the hypothesis that homicide reduction was caused by the actions implemented by the program, a statistical model was developed based on generalized linear models. RESULTS In the first six months a 69% reduction in the number of homicides was obtained. During the other Program periods, the effect on the reduction of homicides lessened, but the difference among coefficients compared to the initial period was not statistically significant. Even with full Program implementation, the effect continued to be similar to the previous periods, probably because the program was implemented in other violent favelas in the city. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the Staying Alive Program model can be an important alternative for the prevention of youth homicides in communities that have characteristics similar to the pilot program in Morro das Pedras.OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto de programa de prevencao de homicidios. METODOS: Com base nos dados do Programa Fica Vivo, de prevencao de homicidios, foi realizado um estudo quase experimental com analise de series temporais da ocorrencia de homicidios no aglomerado Morro das Pedras, em Belo Horizonte, MG, de 2002 a 2006. Comparou-se o numero de homicidios ocorridos nessa localidade com os de outras favelas violentas e nao violentas e outros bairros da cidade, em cada uma das fases do Programa. Para testar a hipotese de que a reducao dos homicidios resultou das acoes implementadas pelo Programa, foi elaborado um modelo estatistico baseado em modelos lineares generalizados. RESULTADOS: Nos primeiros seis meses obteve-se 69% de reducao no numero medio de homicidios. Nos periodos de refluxo e retomada parcial do Programa, o efeito de reducao dos homicidios diminuiu, mas a diferenca entre coeficientes com aquele do periodo inicial nao foi estatisticamente significante. Mesmo com a retomada integral do Programa, o efeito continuou similar aos dos periodos anteriores, provavelmente porque o Programa foi implantado em outras favelas violentas da cidade. CONCLUSOES: Os resultados apontam que o modelo do Programa Fica Vivo pode constituir uma importante alternativa para prevencao de homicidios contra jovens em comunidades que apresentem caracteristicas semelhantes as da experiencia piloto no Morro das Pedras.

Social ecology of fear: evaluating the association between neighborhood context and fear of crime

The association between the structural characteristics of a neighborhood and indicators of crime and disorder has received increasing attention from studies in criminology in recent years. Recent studies have emphasized the relationship between the contextual characteristics of neighborhoods and the fear of crime. In this paper we define fear of crime as a negative emotional reaction toward crime. We then seek to incorporate individual characteristics as related to neighborhood contexts in search of empirical evidence as to their “social ecology.” A multilevel regression model was developed using the Victimization Survey, conducted by the Centre for Studies in Crime and Public Safety - CRISP / UFMG. We found a positive association between women with higher fear rates and the fact of being elderly, although residential stability has an opposite effect. At the neighborhood level, the main result was that social cohesion affects the association between crime rates and fear of crime.

Reducción de homicidios en Minas Gerais: un análisis del programa «Fica Vivo!»

Este articulo presenta los resultados de una investigacion cualitativa sobre la contribucion del programa «Fica Vivo!» al control y reduccion de los homicidios en Minas Gerais (Brasil), segun la percepcion de los actores sociales e institucionales involucrados. La metodologia se baso en entrevistas semiestructuradas y grupos focales con los gerentes y monitores de los talleres, lideres comunitarios y profesionales de la seguridad publica y la justicia penal. En estas conversaciones emergieron una serie de tensiones relacionadas con las funciones sociales de los actores del programa, es decir, el equipo tecnico y los profesionales de seguridad publica. Asi, entre los asuntos en disputa destacan las percepciones sobre los objetivos del programa y el flujo de informacion entre la comunidad y el equipo, en una dinamica que no siempre incluye a la Policia.

Ecología social del miedo: evaluando la asociación entre el contexto de barrio y el miedo al crimen

The association between the structural characteristics of a neighborhood and indicators of crime and disorder has received increasing attention from studies in criminology in recent years. Recent studies have emphasized the relationship between the contextual characteristics of neighborhoods and the fear of crime. In this paper we define fear of crime as a negative emotional reaction toward crime. We then seek to incorporate individual characteristics as related to neighborhood contexts in search of empirical evidence as to their “social ecology.” A multilevel regression model was developed using the Victimization Survey, conducted by the Centre for Studies in Crime and Public Safety - CRISP / UFMG. We found a positive association between women with higher fear rates and the fact of being elderly, although residential stability has an opposite effect. At the neighborhood level, the main result was that social cohesion affects the association between crime rates and fear of crime.

Impacto del Programa Permanezca Vivo en la reducción de los homicidios en comunidad de Belo Horizonte, Sureste de Brasil

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of a homicide prevention program. METHODS A quasi-experimental study was performed using time series analysis of homicide incidence in the Morro das Pedras area in the city of Belo Horizonte, Southeastern Brazil, from 2002 to 2006. The number of homicides occurring in this location was compared to other violent and non-violent favelas and to other neighborhoods of the city, during each of the Program phases. To test the hypothesis that homicide reduction was caused by the actions implemented by the program, a statistical model was developed based on generalized linear models. RESULTS In the first six months a 69% reduction in the number of homicides was obtained. During the other Program periods, the effect on the reduction of homicides lessened, but the difference among coefficients compared to the initial period was not statistically significant. Even with full Program implementation, the effect continued to be similar to the previous periods, probably because the program was implemented in other violent favelas in the city. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the Staying Alive Program model can be an important alternative for the prevention of youth homicides in communities that have characteristics similar to the pilot program in Morro das Pedras.OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto de programa de prevencao de homicidios. METODOS: Com base nos dados do Programa Fica Vivo, de prevencao de homicidios, foi realizado um estudo quase experimental com analise de series temporais da ocorrencia de homicidios no aglomerado Morro das Pedras, em Belo Horizonte, MG, de 2002 a 2006. Comparou-se o numero de homicidios ocorridos nessa localidade com os de outras favelas violentas e nao violentas e outros bairros da cidade, em cada uma das fases do Programa. Para testar a hipotese de que a reducao dos homicidios resultou das acoes implementadas pelo Programa, foi elaborado um modelo estatistico baseado em modelos lineares generalizados. RESULTADOS: Nos primeiros seis meses obteve-se 69% de reducao no numero medio de homicidios. Nos periodos de refluxo e retomada parcial do Programa, o efeito de reducao dos homicidios diminuiu, mas a diferenca entre coeficientes com aquele do periodo inicial nao foi estatisticamente significante. Mesmo com a retomada integral do Programa, o efeito continuou similar aos dos periodos anteriores, provavelmente porque o Programa foi implantado em outras favelas violentas da cidade. CONCLUSOES: Os resultados apontam que o modelo do Programa Fica Vivo pode constituir uma importante alternativa para prevencao de homicidios contra jovens em comunidades que apresentem caracteristicas semelhantes as da experiencia piloto no Morro das Pedras.