vol. 50 núm. 2 (2008): julio - noviembre

This paper is a theoretical reflection resulting from a review of the theoretical and methodological assumptions lying in Crime Prevention and Human Rights Promotion Programs. This paper evolves from assumptions of social psychology, which has identified some psychological variables that explain group dynamics. Such variables are key to implementing prevention programs intended to change and/or modify behaviors. This paper proposes some psychological guidelines that must be taken into account when designing Crime and Human Rights Prevention Programs, so as to have an impact on target population.

This paper highlights the relevance of Criminal Investigation in order to clear up crimes and its contribution to law enforcement. In Colombia, guidelines to investigate crimes are set out in the Penal Code (Act 906/2004), and as a complement, the National Police sets up protocols to carry out such type of investigations that, together with the investigators` technical-scientific knowledge would permit the identification, determination and proper prosecution of alleged crime perpetrators. Finally, this paper presents a real-life case to demonstrate the efficiency of criminal investigation.

This paper briefly presents three significant homicides since the impact the victims, modus operandi and perpetrators had was of high relevance for public life at national and international levels. Also, the timely action of the National Police in order to clear up the offence is presented.Key words: police investigation, homicide, blackmailing, arrest, search

This paper is the result of two questions: whether young offenders exist, on the one hand; where do they come from? who makes them? are they the ones who decide to be so, from their own free will?; on the other hand, once they become offenders: can their learning process of being offenders be reversed?. The author’s answer is based on the concept which states that such young children are a subproduct of society caused by structural misfunctioning, a fact that if not deeply attacked, would consolidate a favorable environs for them to become young and adult offenders. When institutions fail in socializing and controlling, a social gap is covered by substitute elements. If the young child’s environs is characterized by breaking rules, it is then considered as a competitor of the role assigned to those institutions thus replacing the roles assigned to the latter. As a result, such environs would replace the roles assigned and fill the social gap found. Once the role of the offender is learnt, an ex-role social process that may be considered responsibility of the institutions is required. Such argument goes beyond the mere individual view and emphasizes on a social and cultural perspective, which would likely be the answer to the problems posed.

From 1996 to 2008, the number of victims of kidnapping in Colombia decreased sharply, specially extortive kidnapping. This paper analyzes the decrease of this type of kidnapping, mainly by guerrilla groups. Also this paper shows a likely scenario of kidnapping behavior without armed conflict, and how other parties may arise – guerrilla factions and common delinquency -.

This paper describes the way financial institutions and other economic sectors generate customer profiles as a tool to prevent and detect asset laundering. The process consists of gathering customer information along with their financial history in order to set profiles that - together with the features of each transaction and in accordance with what one expects from each group of customers - makes a comparison between the former and real and everyday transactions. These means lie on statistical tools and data mining that allow us to forecast customer behavior based on their socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Detection of out-of-the-common transactions is not enough to prevent and detect asset laundering since it is necessary to commence a scientific-type investigation stage that includes financial institutions’ hypotheses, as they hold a key role in setting procedures to take. From a technological point of view, the tools that support this task may be divided into two groups according to their main function: knowledge generation and alert generation.

This paper aims to present drug trafficking behavior in Mexico. To do so, a brief description of the development of this phenomenon and how it has become a transnational offence is carried out. Also, the impact of some drug cartels on national security, their internal structure and modus operandi are mentioned. Secondly, actions taken by the Mexican government against drug trafficking are presented. Finally, some suggestions that may contribute to reduce such offences - following the experience of the Colombian government against drug trafficking - are given.

This research aims to establish the way taxi drivers are victims of criminality and to present the modus operandi criminal groups have to permeate the transporting sector in order to commit crimes such as theft, burglary, drug and arm transport, among others. This paper also examines taxi drivers´ participation as a determinant factor of security in Bogotá emphasizing on the collaborative relations between them and the National Police through a support network. Finally, some ideas from taxi company managers about studied topics are given.