Police efficiency and public policies in Brazil and the United States in a comparative perspective

Abstract

This study compares police efficiency in Brazil and the United States between 2015 and 2025, analyzing how public policies, institutional structures, and legal safeguards influence the performance of law enforcement agencies. Using a qualitative-quantitative approach, the research reveals that the U.S. model, decentralized and based on a full policing cycle — demonstrates greater agility, accountability, and legal predictability. In contrast, Brazil’s dual police system, divided between Military and Civil forces, suffers from excessive bureaucracy, legal uncertainty, and administrative discontinuity. The findings indicate that police efficiency depends less on punitive severity and more on the coherence between policy design, management practices, and organizational culture. In Brazil, weak institutional integration and high levels of impunity foster recidivism and undermine officer motivation. In the United States, policy stability and professional appreciation strengthen crime control and public confidence. The study concludes that improving Brazil’s policing model requires integrated operations, standardized performance indicators, legal and institutional support, and long-term, evidence-based public policies that balance operational effectiveness with respect for fundamental rights.