Advances, Setbacks, And The Use Of Technology For Citizen Security In Latin American Police Institutions

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze and expose the most relevant advances and best practices in the field of policing in various Latin American countries. Particular attention is paid to the strategies for the adoption and incorporation of technological innovations, as well as to the institutional development processes that accompany them. To this end, a comparative method is used, based on sources of information of a mainly governmental nature, as well as academic and newspaper sources, which allows the identification of particularities in each context at the national level. At the same time, the article examines a series of criticisms and questions that have arisen around the operation, structure, and management of police institutions in the region. These observations are fundamental, as they show the tensions between the demands of technological modernization and the institutional, political, and social limitations faced by security forces. Finally, special emphasis is placed on the social impacts of these transformations, as they reflect not only changes in police practices, but also in the relationship between the security forces, the State, and citizens.