Crime statistics in Brazil

an investigation into the publication of public security data by state secretariats

Abstract

Introduction: The issue of violence in Brazil is characterized by high rates of homicide and sexual violence, particularly targeting black people, young individuals, and women. While technology has been employed to prevent crimes, the absence of reliable data complicates the formulation of effective public policies to address these forms of violence. Objectives: To analyze the status of the websites belonging to Brazil's state public security departments, with a specific focus on the accessibility of crime data and statistics. Methodology: In the first stage of the research, we delineated the aspects to be examined within the portals of public security secretariats, focusing on the availability of criminal data, communication of the secretariats' actions, and domestic violence, including violence against women, children, or adolescents. In the second stage, we visited the 27 portals to collect data. Results: The analysis indicates that 22.2% of secretariats make data available for deeper analyses. Moreover, 77.8% of secretariats present statistical reports, although these reports lack format, data, metadata, or layout standardization. On the other hand, it shows that 96.3% of the sites analyzed have news systems to disseminate security information and that 74.1% have at least one profile on social media, indicating concern about keeping the population informed about security-related issues. Conclusion: The issue of public security data in Brazil still needs to evolve significantly. While over 77% of state secretariats practice disseminating statistical reports, only six of them publicly provide data that can be analyzed more in-depth, yielding more meaningful results.