In 2014, the province of Mendoza, Argentina, saw a significant increase in violent crimes, reaching the highest homicide rates in 10 years (10.3 per 100,000) and prompting calls for innovations to address security needs. As a response to that, Godoy Cruz, one of the province’s largest cities, began to address citizen security, prioritizing the local government’s responsibility for crime prevention and conflict management through data-driven and evidence-based strategies that prioritize human rights.
The municipality of Godoy Cruz is currently implementing a comprehensive model of citizen security that combines evidence-based strategies, a focus on human rights, and community participation, all facilitated by important technological advancements. At the forefront of the model is the connection between the community alert system (SAC) and a hot-spot policing program called Godoy Cruz + Police. These programs communicate with, and complement, each other, improving communication between neighbors and the government while generating key data for targeted policing efforts. This Insight Brief describes these two initiatives, discussing their challenges, results and lessons learned.