Policing and politics in Latin America : when law enforcement breaks the law

"Challenging fundamental assumptions about the virtues of local control, considers why some Latin American countries' police forces are more corrupt than others-and what policy initiatives can turn an abusive police force into one that works for its citizens"-- Provided by publisher Though police are supposed to serve and protect, they all too often rob and abuse. Why? And what can be done about it? That is the central puzzle addressed in this book. Drawing on the disparate cases of Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, Diego Esparza analyzes why some countries’ police forces are more corrupt than others and considers what policy initiatives can turn an abusive police force into one that works for its citizens. His findings, perhaps most notably, fundamentally challenge assumptions about the virtues of local control. Contents Tables and Figures Acknowledgments 1 The Problem of Police Misconduct 2 Chile: A Model for Latin America? 3 Colombia: Policing in Times of Civil Conflict 4 Mexico: Reforming Police During a Drug War 5 Overcoming the Sheep-Wolf-Dog Narrative References Index About the Book