Rio Police Violence Analysis

The Brazilian police force is extremely violent, and corrupt due to inequalities in factors such as, low salaries, and corrupt regulation (Stahlberg, 5). The police forces salaries often result in the members having to outsource, and find other types of work, which are often illegal, and the police will often work as private guards who will accept bribes from drug traffickers to add-on to police salaries, and elevate their personal safety while on duty (Stahlberg, 5). Stahlberg goes on to explain Sores (2009) description of police violence toward the people of Rio, showing that between 2003 and 2007, the police of Rio killed 5569 people, and nearly all deaths that were reported from the police to the state were listed as autos de resistência, …show more content…
Militias can be described as a modern type of traditional vigilante groups. The press used the word “militia” to avoid any other terms with negative connotations, such as “death squads” and “vigilantes” (Paula, 12). This resulted in the press, and government presenting militias as a ‘local policing group’ that was in pursuit of protecting from outside threats like gangs, and drug trafficking (Paula, 12). It was only after 2008, when one of the militias tortured, and held a group of reporter’s hostage that the state recognized militias as a crime group, but still considers them less of a threat than Rio’s drug dealers (Paula, 12). Militias justify their violent acts by pretending to provide security to neighborhoods against drug gangs, and the necessity to respond to violence initiated by rivalry among gangs over drug trafficking free zones, with their legitimation coming from the inconsistency of regular law enforcement that is supposed to restore public order (Ribeiro, Oliverira, 4). Militia’s influence joined relations with the state to displace political authorities, and civil society and undertake leadership positions in the territories under their power.(Moncanda, 229) The state is then dismissed of its obligation to provide security, while protection rackets register ‘financial gains through the extortion of local businesses without fear of the state reprisal.’ (Moncanda, 229) Their gains are not only financial, but also sometimes political. The Rio state sponsored militias often use political clientelism, as a way to further extend their control. Relationships with political parties, and access to government and infrastructure give further control. Militias often use ‘physical symbols’ to mark their control with wall murals, patrols, cameras, and barriers. (Pearce, Mcgee, and Wheeler, 13) Though militias are harmful, the people of Rio de