New York: safe but intolerant

In 1990, the annual number of murders in New York reached 2,262, a record figure that marked a high-water mark in the city’s levels of violence. A decade later, murders have fallen in over 70% while vehicle theft and other crimes have dropped in more than 50%.  And crime rates continue to fall: in 2005, 540 murders were recorded.  But, despite its success in reducing violent crime, the system has attracted - and continues to attract - criticism.

Exclusive reports:

Zero Tolerance: less crime, more racism?
New York’s police reform has reduced crime but has also led to a rise in prison sentences for minor offences, police brutality, human rights violations and prejudice

Compstat: communication working for public security  
Technology and better information management have contributed to a fall in crime

Belo Horizonte: 23% fewer murders in eight months
Launched in June 2005, the Program for Coordination and Management Public Security in Minas Gerais (IGESP) is a success story (in portuguese)

São Paulo: “crime mapping” has contributed to a fall in the murder rate
The Infocrim system, from the São Paulo State Office for Security, links all the police stations in the city of São Paulo and maps crime hotspots (in portuguese)

Terracrime: satellite data mapping in the battle against crime in Brazil
Open source program makes it possible to draw information useful for planning and implementing public security measures from street level to the nation as a whole (in portuguese)

Articles:

What We’ve Learned About Policing – article by William J. Bratton and William Andrews published in City Journal in 1999

Driving Out The Crime Wave: The police methods that worked in New York City can work in Latin America – article by William J. Bratton e William Andrews published in Time magazine in 2001

Police Strategies to Reduce Violence – Article by Colonel José Vicente da Silva Filho 

Other websites/links:

Official site of the New York City Police Department

Compstat Statistics (PDF file)

Reports of the New York City Criminal Justice Agency

The rise and fall of New York Murder – Zero Tolerance or Crack´s decline? (Article by Benjamin Bowling published in the British Journal of Criminology in 1999)

Zero Tolerance Database – debate topics and debate motions (A table setting out pros and cons of the Zero Tolerance Program)

Human Rights First - Mexico Policing Project

Police Talk

Site of Colonel José Vicente da Silva Filho  

Recommended bibliography:

Public Insecurity – Collected articles by specialists and studies on violence and on police structures in Brazil and abroad. Edited by the Fernand Braudel Institute of World Economics

NYPD Battles Crime: Innovative Strategies in Policing – Book by Eli B. Silverman, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York City University. 

Zero Tolerance, Resisting the Drive for Punishment – Collection of articles about the implementation of Zero Tolerance in schools

The Turnaround: How America's Top Cop Reversed the Crime Epidemic – By William J. Bratton e Peter Knobler. This book tells the story of New York City Police Commissioner Bratton and his quest for public order since childhood.

Fixing Broken Windows: Restoring Order And Reducing Crime In Our Communities – The authors, George L. Kelling and Catherine M. Coles, discuss community policing and the focus on punishment rather than prevention.

Zero Tolerance: Quality of Life and the New Police Brutality in New York City – Collection of articles edited by Andrea McArdle e Tanya Erzen

New York Murder Mystery: The True Story Behind the Crime Crash of the 1990's –Book by Andrew Karmen, of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York City University.