ASINT — Violence in Rio de Janeiro : A Cara do Crime
“A cara do crime” translated to English as “the face of crime”, a term popularized throughout Brazil due to the proibidão and trap genre of music. Proibidãois the name given to a type of electronic funk music produced in Brazilian favelas, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, where it first appeared in the early 1990s as a parallel phenomenon to the expansion of drug gangs.
While gangs are undoubtedly prominent in Rio de Janeiro and have had an influence on certain aspects of modern pop culture, are they the main driving force behind crime? To address this question, I will utilize All Source Intelligence (ASINT) to provide an answer.
KEY FACTORS
Crime is not an isolated phenomenon, and the path that leads individuals to engage in criminal behavior is not a process that happens overnight. Therefore, I have identified five key factors that contribute to the proliferation of criminal activities in Rio de Janeiro.
CORRUPTION
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a city plagued by corruption, which has contributed to the perpetuation of crime and violence. Public representatives, who are entrusted with the welfare of the people, have been accused and convicted of crimes such as misuse of public resources, receipt of bribes, money laundering, and participation in criminal organizations. The following are ways in which corruption in Rio de Janeiro perpetuates crime.
- Police Brutality — Despite the good intentions of some public officials, most of Rio de Janeiro’s police remain abusive, violent, and corrupt. Law enforcement efforts to control crime have relied on flagrant and numerous human rights abuses.
“The problem of trafficking will only be resolved with blood. It’s the only language they understand.” — Mario Azevedo, Chief of Police, 21st Police Precinct, Rio de Janeiro
While it’s understandable that the Chief of Police in Rio is dealing with a significant challenge in combating trafficking, it’s important to remember that violence often begets more violence. The statement “The problem of trafficking will only be resolved with blood. It’s the only language they understand.” can be seen as a call for an escalation in force, which may not necessarily lead to a resolution of the problem.
In fact, Rio has the highest number of deaths caused by police in Brazil. This indicates that the current approach might not be working as intended and could be contributing to a cycle of violence.
- Impunity — Impunity, corruption, and unlawful killings have made it impossible for the police to develop trust with residents. Without decisive action to end impunity for police abuses, police brutality will continue to disproportionately affect residensts in the state of Rio.
- Organized Crime — Organized crime in Rio de Janeiro is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that affects the social, economic, and political spheres of the city. According to some sources, there are two main types of criminal groups that operate in Rio: drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and paramilitary groups (PGs). These groups have different sources of income, governance structures, and relationships with the state and the society.
The state’s inability or unwillingness to provide security and social welfare to the favela residents creates a vacuum that is filled by the criminal groups, who offer protection, justice, and services in exchange for loyalty, taxes, or votes. The political connections between organized crime and state actors are another factor that perpetuates crime in Rio. Some politicians, police officers, and public officials are either corrupted or coerced by the criminal groups, who seek to influence policies, elections, and law enforcement in their favor. For example, some PGs are composed of former or current police officers who use their connections and expertise to extort, control, and exploit the favela residents. Some DTOs also have alliances or conflicts with political parties or candidates who support or oppose their interests.
EDUCATION
There is a strong correlation between education and crime in Rio de Janeiro. Many studies have revealed that the majority of the people who commit or suffer from homicide have low levels of education. This suggests that improving the quality and access of education could help reduce violence in the state.
The state courts have revealed alarming data that shows the seriousness of the school dropout problem. Judge Vanessa Cavalieri, who leads the Juvenile Court in the capital, reported that 83% of the 3,223 young offenders who were arrested in the state from January to May 2018 had left school. This percentage was 76% in 2016. Most of the dropouts happen in the 6th grade, which means that many students do not finish elementary school and end up in the informal sector. This makes them more vulnerable to join criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, which are also associated with other crimes, such as thefts of pedestrians, cargo and vehicles.
Another problem is that many schools also reject the young offenders and expel them. They send them to schools in areas that are controlled by criminal groups that are enemies of their own. This situation puts the young offenders at risk of being attacked or killed by their rivals. It also prevents them from having a stable and safe learning environment. Therefore, it is important to create policies and programs that support the reintegration of the adolescent offenders into the school system and the society.
LACK OF SOCIAL MOBILITY
The lack of social mobility can contribute to higher crime rates. When individuals feel that they have no opportunity to improve their lives through legal means, they may turn to illegal activities. This is particularly true in areas with high levels of poverty and inequality. In Rio de Janeiro, the combination of high inequality, low social mobility, deficient infrastructure, and urban segregation creates an environment conducive to crime. The city’s poor neighborhoods often lack basic services and public authorities, making them hotbeds of urban violence and insecurity.
- Deficient infrastructure — Poor neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro often lack basic services and public authorities, making them hotbeds of urban violence and insecurity. Many neighborhoods where housing is more affordable have been the victims of disinvestment and neglect, leaving them with failing schools, inadequate services, physical and environmental blight, and high levels of crime and violence
- Economic segregation — The level of economic segregation has been rising in Rio de Janeiro, with the rich more likely to live in different communities than the poor in an economically segregated city, growing up in poverty means living in a neighborhood that offers lower quality schools, fewer economic opportunities, and more violence. For those at the top of the income distribution, growing up in a wealthy family means attending well-resourced schools, having access to economic opportunities through advantaged social networks, and being shielded from the social problems that arise in poorer communities.
UNEMPLOYMENT
Rio de Janeiro is a city that faces many challenges, especially in terms of crime and unemployment. The economic recession and the state’s debt have worsened the living conditions of many people, leading to higher rates of poverty and violence. The favelas, or slums, are the most affected areas, where criminal groups and militias fight for territory and power. The police often intervene with brutal force, resulting in many deaths and human rights violations. The city’s reputation for crime has also harmed its tourism industry, which was once a vital source of income and jobs. Many young people in Rio de Janeiro have no opportunities or hope for the future, and some resort to illegal activities to survive. Crime and unemployment are two interrelated problems that threaten the social and economic stability of Rio de Janeiro.
The economic situation of the country, measured by the unemployment rate, has a different impact on the two types of crimes in Rio de Janeiro: robberies and intentional homicides. The graphs above show that robberies are more strongly correlated with unemployment, meaning that they increase or decrease according to the economic conditions. On the other hand, homicides have a weaker correlation with unemployment, meaning that they are influenced by other factors besides the economy. This suggests that robberies are more related to the lack of income and opportunities, while homicides are more related to the conflicts and violence in the favelas. These findings are consistent with the previous paragraph, which described how crime and unemployment are two interrelated problems that affect the social and economic stability of Rio de Janeiro.
POVERTY
Although poverty is the default state of man, it does not have to be the destiny of millions of people who live in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. Poverty is not only a lack of material resources, but also a deprivation of dignity, rights, and opportunities. Poverty is both a cause and a consequence of crime, creating a vicious cycle that traps many low-income Brazilians in a situation of violence and insecurity.
Poverty causes crime by creating conditions that push people to resort to illegal activities to survive or escape their reality. Many young people in the favelas have no access to quality education, health care, or employment, and face discrimination and stigma from the rest of society. Some of them join drug gangs or militias, which offer them a sense of belonging, protection, and income. Others become victims of exploitation, trafficking, or abuse. Poverty also makes people more vulnerable to crime, as they live in areas with poor infrastructure, sanitation, and public services, where the state is often absent or repressive.
Crime causes poverty by undermining the social and economic development of the favelas and the city as a whole. Crime erodes the trust and social capital that are essential for community cohesion and collective action. Crime discourages investment and entrepreneurship, reducing the opportunities for growth and innovation. Crime damages the physical and mental health of the residents, affecting their productivity and well-being. Crime also harms the reputation and attractiveness of Rio de Janeiro as a tourist destination, affecting one of its main sources of revenue and employment.
Breaking the cycle of poverty and crime in Rio de Janeiro requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses both the root causes and the symptoms of the problem. It requires not only improving the security and justice system, but also promoting social inclusion, economic empowerment, and human rights for the residents of the favelas. It requires not only combating the criminal organizations, but also creating alternatives for the youth who are at risk of joining them. It requires not only reducing the inequality and discrimination that exist in the city, but also fostering a culture of peace and solidarity among all its inhabitants.
RIO’S MOST EFFECTED — FUTURE GENERATIONS
Lethal violence is a major problem for young people in Brazil, especially for adolescent males and those aged between 15 and 29. According to a UNODC report on global homicides in 2019 (UNODC, 2019a), the American continent has a significant influence on this situation, due to the structural factors that generate violent deaths, such as organized crime and firearms. In 2019, out of every 100 deaths of young people aged 15 to 19 in Brazil, 39 were caused by homicides. For those aged 20 to 24, the number was 38, and for those aged 25 to 29, it was 31. More than half of the 45,503 homicides in Brazil in 2019 were young people aged between 15 and 29. That means that every day, 64 young lives were cut short by violence. In the last eleven years (2009–2019), more than 333,000 young people were killed in Brazil. These are people who never had the chance to finish their education, pursue their careers, start their families, or achieve their goals.
However, there is some progress to be noted compared to the previous year. In 2019, there was a 24.3% decrease in the number of homicides compared to 2018. The homicide rate per 100,000 young people also dropped from 60.4 to 45.8, a reduction of 24.3% in one year. This decline affected the proportion of homicides as a cause of death among all possible causes. In 2018, lethal violence accounted for 48.4% of deaths of young people aged 15 to 19, while in 2019 this proportion fell to 39.1%. A similar trend was observed for deaths in the age group of 20 to 24, which went from 45.8% in 2018 to 38% in 2019.
This downward trend in youth lethal violence has been seen since 2017 and is consistent with the general decrease in homicides in the country. While in 2018, the national homicide rate per 100,000 young people had fallen by 13.6% compared to the previous year, in 2019 this reduction was even greater, at 24.3%. The data for 2019 also shows a decline in almost all states. Only Amazonas had a 5.4% increase in the youth mortality rate compared to 2018, as shown in the graph below.
In conclusion, crime in Rio de Janeiro is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that cannot be attributed to a single cause or actor. While the gangs play a significant role in the violence and insecurity that plague the city, they are not the only ones responsible for the situation. The true face of crime is undoubtedly shaped by the social factors that create and sustain the conditions for criminality, such as corruption, education, lack of social mobility, unemployment, and poverty. These factors affect the lives and choices of millions of people who live in the favelas and other marginalized areas, where they face exclusion, discrimination, and oppression. To address the problem of crime in Rio de Janeiro, it is necessary to tackle these social factors and promote human rights and social development for all its inhabitants. Only then can the city hope to achieve peace and prosperity.
