How Are Homicide Rates in Rio and Other Places?

Abstract

The incidence of intentional homicides (murder) is one of the most commonly used indicators by researchers to measure the level of violence in communities. It is not an easy task, as the primary data are obtained through administrative records, that is, statistics gathered by police and judicial authorities. These records do not follow a single, or even consistent, methodology, and are often subject to manipulation – not to mention underreporting, as the police are not always aware of crimes that have occurred.