São Paulo: crime and prevention

The evening of the 12th of May of 2006, the State of São Paulo came under attack- its security forces targeted in a series of criminal actions. The attacks were attributed to the PCC (First Command of the Capital, or Primeiro Comando da Capital) an alledged retaliation for the state government's decision to isolate leaders of the so-called organized crime.

From Friday evening to Sunday morning, May 14th, 52 people lost their lives: 35 homicide victims were officers of the state's security forces, among them the civil police, military police, metropolitan guards, and security agents at penitentiaries, the remaining victims were three civilians and 14 suspects of criminal action. 50 were wounded in the attack, 24 military police officers, five civil police officers, five guards, and two prison security agents, as well as eight civilians and six suspects.

The attacks also hit penitentiaries and provisionary detention centers (CDPs). Rebellions broke out in 64 detention centers across the state from Friday to Sunday. São Paulo state has 33 CDPs e 74 prisons. The attacks were precipitated after the transference on the 11th of  765 inmates to Penitentiary 2 near Presidente Venceslau (620 km west of São Paulo), as a detterrant to PCC activities.

A selection of the specialized literature available in Portuguese at Comunidad Segura's Virtual Library:

O Policiamento que a Sociedade Deseja: análise das discussões em grupo com praças da Polícia Militar de São Paulo

O Policiamento que a Sociedade Deseja: análise das discussões em grupo com investigadores da Polícia Civil de São Paulo

O Policiamento que a Sociedade Deseja: análise da discussão em grupo com oficiais da Polícia Militar de São Paulo

O Policiamento que a Sociedade Deseja: análise das discussões em grupo com delegados da Polícia Civil do Estado de São Paulo

Pesquisa de Vitimização: região metropolitana de São Paulo

A Corregedoria e a Ação Letal da Polícia Paulista

From other sources: (In Portuguese)

Violência caiu 18,5% em São Paulo entre 2004 e 2005 - Crime map story, published in O Globo Newspaper, September, 22 of 2006. In Portuguese.

São Paulo sob ataque –  Folha de S. Paulo newspaper special report, continuously updated. In Portuguese.

Apolitical terrorism takes its turn - Interview / Paulo de Mesquita Neto

São Paulo antiquated criminal justice against cutting edge crime - Interview / Sérgio Adorno

Violence prevention volunteers in schools

Alternative sentencing for youths flourishes in São Paulo state municipalities

São Paulo's child witness protection program

São Paulo NGO helps out with young offender care

Diadema's historic plunging homicide rate, when  government and civil society join forces