Victimización y justicia por mano propia en Uruguay

Maximo Rossi, Universidad del Uruguay - Departamento de Economía (dECON)
Fernando Borraz, Universidad de la Republica
Cecilia Chouhy, Universidad de la Republica

Abstract

This article analyzes the attitude of the Uruguayans towards the subjection to the law in the prosecution and punishment of offenders. Specifically, it addresses the approval of people taking justice into their own hands and justification for police action outside the law when capturing delinquents. The LAPOP database (Latin American Public Opinion Project, Vanderbilt University) conducted in 2008 is used for this purpose. Analyzing probit estimates, it is observed that the justification of people taking justice into their own hand is related to the respondent’s experience and situation. Having been victimized in recent months, feeling unsafe in their neighborhood and considering their economic situation as not good, increases the probability of assuming such position. On the other hand, adherence to police procedures is related to individual’s philosophical and political beliefs. This finding indicates that the formation of such attitudes has a differential dynamic and that Uruguayans, when justifying actions outside the law, consider the type of action and the actor involved.

Suggested Citation

Maximo Rossi, Fernando Borraz, and Cecilia Chouhy. 2012. "Victimización y justicia por mano propia en Uruguay" dECON-Working Papers
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/maximo_rossi/56