Citizen security, violence and criminality: a holistic and criminological vision of the statistical figures of 2018

Abstract

Criminality and public safety are associated and dependent concepts and therefore evidence – through statistical indicators - establishes an existing correlation between both using a descriptive type approach. This document aims to analyze, interpret and describe the behavior of the crimes that occurred during 2018 in Colombia. In this sense it begins with the debate of socioeconomic and public safety aspects of the criminal economy, as well as its impact on the commission of criminal elements. The methodology used focuses on the Main Components Analysis (MCA), which determines the grouping and concentration of eight crimes nationwide per quarter; then it focuses on 10 capital cities that concentrate 23% of the crimes, finally in the localities of Bogotá. Likewise, the criminological analysis is carried out to illustrate the behavior compared to the other factors that affect the criminological juncture. Drawing from the information that lies at the SIEDCO¹ database, statistical exercises were done to establish levels of correlation to study the inertia of criminal indicators in Colombia during the comparative periods of 2017 and 2018, since these behaviors are repeated in time. As a result, a correlation between qualitative and academic information could be established with filed complaints and criminal acts known by the National Police. Likewise, the operational activities of the institution have allowed a holistic observation of crime registered at a national level and a study of criminogenic variables that help having more effective police actions in crime reduction and complementary methods to combat criminal action.