Citizen Perceptions of Police Misconduct

Jose Miguel Cruz has a new report in the AmericasBarometer Insights series on "Police Misconduct and Democracy in Latin America."  Using the 2008 Americas Barometer survey, Cruz analyzed how citizens perceived the police in their country and how those perceptions impacted support for democracy. 

When asked to answer whether police typically protect citizens or whether they are more likely to be involved in crime, 44% of respondents chose the latter.  In Central America, the percentages were as follows

• Guatemala    66%
• El Salvador    49%
• Honduras      47%
• Panama        36%
• Costa Rica    31%
• Nicaragua     25%
• Belize           23%

The countries of the Northern Triangle occupy the top three positions.  Guatemala leads all countries with the highest percentage of its citizens possessing a negative perception of the police.  Costa Rica, Nicaragua are Belize are three countries with low perceptions of police corruption.

It will be interesting to compare the answers to these survey questions with those of the next LAPOP poll given the recent events in Central America. 

In Guatemala, you have the work CICIG and several profile arrests and resignations of individuals involved with the police.  Additional troops have taken to the streets and a new administration has uncovered several allegations of corruption in El Salvador.  Finally, you have the coup and increased repression in Honduras.