CRIME PREVENTION AS PUBLIC POLICY: CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL CONTROL

Abstract

Public safety is one of the fundamental pillars of the State, as it guarantees the effective exercise of people's rights and freedoms. However, this area is constantly threatened by criminal activity, which, in addition to affecting the safety of citizens, erodes trust in institutions and weakens the social fabric. In this context, this article analyzes crime prevention as a public policy from a socio-legal perspective, highlighting the importance of citizen participation and social control as central elements for a comprehensive public safety strategy. Based on a conceptual and regulatory review, the article examines the structural factors that influence crime, as well as the main preventive strategies aimed at strengthening co-responsibility between the State and society.