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Center for Studies on Public Safety |
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Santiago, Chile
Helping to develop policies and practices in the field of public security that respect human rights, are open to public control and critique, and aim to reduce violence
The Center for Citizen Security Studies (Centro de Estudios en Seguridad Ciudadana, known as CESC) is part of the Institute for Public Affairs (Instituto de Asuntos Públicos) at the University of Chile. It was established in October 2001 with funding from the First National Competition for Citizen Security Research Projects organized by Chile’s National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research and the Chilean Ministry of the Interior.
Under the leadership of Hugo Frühling, CESC undertakes projects in public policy development, research, and extension and teaching activities. Its mission is to contribute to the design of fully democratic public polices for citizen security that respect civil rights, are open to constructive criticism and citizen oversight, and above all, emphasize a preventive approach to reducing violence.
CESC objectives include the development of quality studies and research supported by strong methodology on key issues addressing criminality and violence. CESC builds information systems to support local and national policies, evaluates the impact of intervention programs for at-risk groups, advises public and private institutions on the design, evaluation and systematization of violence prevention and crime reduction programs, participates in the training and development of professionals working in the area of citizen security and criminal justice and maintains strong links and exchanges with national and international entities addressing violence reduction and public security.
CESC is directed by Hugo Frühling who is a widely respected expert on policing through Latin America. CESC provides support for organizations promoting empirical research and engagement on civilian oversight mechanisms throughout the region.
CESC has defined three major areas of research.
- Crime Prevention This area aims to address the need for effective responses to the growth of fear and violence. It does this by strengthening the capacity of those who design and implement violence prevention programs in several Latin American countries. Its main activity is the Community Crime Prevention Program Strengthening Project, which involves research designed to increase knowledge about the most problematic neighborhoods where prevention programs are focused. In turn, this informs further public policy studies public policies addressing citizen security in Latin America.
- Prison Studies This area works on prison issues in order to contribute to the creation and improvement of public policies for social reintegration that guarantee the exercise of civil rights. As part of this work, CESC implements reintegration pilot projects, conducts research on reintegration and participates in working groups with the public sector.
- Police and the Criminal Justice System This area contributes to police and criminal justice reform in Latin America from an empirical and comparative perspective, by strengthening local capacities in these subjects and sharing successful experiences from the region. CESC conducts research, advises other entities and generates knowledge that can be used to improve the objective and subjective security conditions faced by people coming in touch with the justice system and the police. Currently work is being conducted in Chile and México.
For more information about the Center for Studies on Public Safety, visit their web site.
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