Homicide Recording and Organized Crime in Latin America. Comparative Analysis of Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay

• In Event: Violence and Organized Crime

Abstract

This study analyzes the challenges in measuring homicides related to organized crime in Latin America. Administrative records differ in how these incidents are recorded by government-level agencies (public safety government authorities) and criminal prosecution levels (prosecutor’s office and police) to determine whether a homicide is linked to organized crime. To this end, this study focuses on three South American countries –Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay– that have historically been classified as having moderate crime rates from a regional perspective. However, according to official crime data and media outlets, these countries have recently seen an increase in the operations of certain types of criminal organizations. The study relies on qualitative methods, analyzing official records and documents produced by official agencies. Preliminary findings indicate that there is no uniform set of classification standards among the countries examined. The classifications employed by different agencies within the criminal justice system differ from one country to another. The inconsistency of the record aligns with the ambiguity of the definition of organized crime used within the criminal justice system agencies mentioned. In summary, the research notes issues affecting the overestimation (Chile and Uruguay) and underestimation (Argentina) of organized crime homicides, impacting criminal justice policy decisions

Author

• Claudio Gonzalez-Guarda, University of Chile, Faculty of Government