Police violence x professionalization in São Paulo State

Abstract

In Brazil, the discussion about the effectiveness of public safety policies, during democratic periods, has had as primary concern to make the police system compatible with the demands and requirements of the rule of law, increasing its level of professionalism. That was a great concern after the fall of Vargas dictatorship in 1946, and in post-military regime in 1985. In both cases, this compatibility has not been satisfactorily achieved. This article aims to develop the idea that failures in the process of professionalization of the police in Sao Paulo has created, for decades, illegal autonomies and, therefore, police violence and corruption.