CHALLENGES AND ALTERNATIVES FOR PUBLIC SECURITY IN CONTEMPORARY BRAZIL

Abstract

This study analyzes the sociological issues influencing Brazil’s public security system, focusing on structural inequalities, racism, and gender discrimination. Through a qualitative bibliographic review, the research highlights how these dynamics perpetuate social exclusion and violence, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations. Structural racism manifests through racial profiling and police lethality, primarily affecting the Black population. Gender-related issues, such as femicide, domestic violence, and the marginalization of LGBTQIA+ individuals, also reveal the system’s shortcomings in addressing the specific needs of these groups. In contrast, the study presents alternative public security policies, such as community policing, conflict mediation, and restorative justice, which offer preventive and inclusive approaches. These initiatives have proven effective in reducing violence and strengthening social relations, although they face institutional and cultural barriers to implementation in Brazil. The results suggest that Brazil’s public security system needs to be restructured from an integrative perspective that acknowledges the intersections of race, gender, and class, promoting equity and social justice. The study concludes that policies based on inclusion and prevention can transform the public security system, making it more effective and sustainable. This work contributes to academic and social debates by proposing solutions that address the structural causes of violence and suggests future research to deepen the analysis of successful experiences and adapt strategies to local specificities.