We invite you to read the letter from our member Loreto Hoyos, in which she reflects on the challenges facing the implementation of the Public Safety Plan.
DEAR EDITOR:
In recent weeks, the government has begun to put the Public Safety Plan into action, led by Minister Martín Arrau. This plan consists of 65 measures that send a significant signal in response to one of the public’s main concerns.
While the challenge posed by organized crime requires comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained responses over time, the truth is that just as important as the design of these measures is the question of whether the state has the necessary material resources to make them effective.
One example of this is the prison system. The creation of high-security units and the strengthening of control over criminal organizations within the prison population are widely shared objectives. However, these measures will hardly be able to fulfill their purpose if prisons continue to operate under current conditions.
In this regard, it is urgent that these types of reforms be accompanied by concrete investments in infrastructure, technology, and staffing.
On the other hand, one aspect that deserves special consideration relates to the police. The debate over the use of force, the accountability of police officers, and institutional oversight mechanisms cannot be ignored when designing a security policy.
However, no security strategy will be successful if material conditions make its implementation impossible or difficult. The effectiveness of a public policy also depends on the State’s actual capacity to put it into practice.
Letter written by:
Loreto Hoyos | Partner | lhoyos@az.cl
