Modeling the role of police corruption in the reduction of organized crime: Mexico as a case study
Abstract Among all types of corruption, police corruption is probably the one that most directly hurts society, as those trusted with protecting the people either side with the criminals that victimize the citizens, or are themselves, criminals. However, both corruption and its effects are very diff...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23630-x |
| _version_ | 1828197929212444672 |
|---|---|
| author | Andrés Aldana Hernán Larralde Maximino Aldana |
| author_facet | Andrés Aldana Hernán Larralde Maximino Aldana |
| author_sort | Andrés Aldana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Among all types of corruption, police corruption is probably the one that most directly hurts society, as those trusted with protecting the people either side with the criminals that victimize the citizens, or are themselves, criminals. However, both corruption and its effects are very difficult to measure quantitatively other than by perception surveys, but the perception that citizens have of this phenomenon may be different from reality. Using a simple agent-based model, we analyze the effect on crime rates as a result of both corruption and the perception of corruption within law-enforcement corporations. Our results show a phase transition in which crime can propagate across the population even when the majority of police officers are honest. We find that one of the parameters that strongly controls crime incidence is the probability that regular citizens become criminals. In contrast, other actions, such as arresting crime lords, or the amount of crime-associated money that is confiscated, have little impact on the long-term crime incidence. Our results suggest that in addition to combating corruption within law-enforcement institutions, to further reduce the incidence of crime, policymakers should strive to restore confidence in these institutions and the justice system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:28:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-050ee5bccabc414697bfb67ff60bcb29 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:28:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-050ee5bccabc414697bfb67ff60bcb292022-12-22T03:36:53ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-11-0112111510.1038/s41598-022-23630-xModeling the role of police corruption in the reduction of organized crime: Mexico as a case studyAndrés Aldana0Hernán Larralde1Maximino Aldana2Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoInstituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCentro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoAbstract Among all types of corruption, police corruption is probably the one that most directly hurts society, as those trusted with protecting the people either side with the criminals that victimize the citizens, or are themselves, criminals. However, both corruption and its effects are very difficult to measure quantitatively other than by perception surveys, but the perception that citizens have of this phenomenon may be different from reality. Using a simple agent-based model, we analyze the effect on crime rates as a result of both corruption and the perception of corruption within law-enforcement corporations. Our results show a phase transition in which crime can propagate across the population even when the majority of police officers are honest. We find that one of the parameters that strongly controls crime incidence is the probability that regular citizens become criminals. In contrast, other actions, such as arresting crime lords, or the amount of crime-associated money that is confiscated, have little impact on the long-term crime incidence. Our results suggest that in addition to combating corruption within law-enforcement institutions, to further reduce the incidence of crime, policymakers should strive to restore confidence in these institutions and the justice system.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23630-x |
| spellingShingle | Andrés Aldana Hernán Larralde Maximino Aldana Modeling the role of police corruption in the reduction of organized crime: Mexico as a case study Scientific Reports |
| title | Modeling the role of police corruption in the reduction of organized crime: Mexico as a case study |
| title_full | Modeling the role of police corruption in the reduction of organized crime: Mexico as a case study |
| title_fullStr | Modeling the role of police corruption in the reduction of organized crime: Mexico as a case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modeling the role of police corruption in the reduction of organized crime: Mexico as a case study |
| title_short | Modeling the role of police corruption in the reduction of organized crime: Mexico as a case study |
| title_sort | modeling the role of police corruption in the reduction of organized crime mexico as a case study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23630-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andresaldana modelingtheroleofpolicecorruptioninthereductionoforganizedcrimemexicoasacasestudy AT hernanlarralde modelingtheroleofpolicecorruptioninthereductionoforganizedcrimemexicoasacasestudy AT maximinoaldana modelingtheroleofpolicecorruptioninthereductionoforganizedcrimemexicoasacasestudy |