Police forces in Latin America historically have been regarded as hopelessly corrupt, inefficient, and even abusive. More recently, however, there have been clear signs that police reforms have gained traction in the region—with some notable exceptions. The authors of this book explore the scope of the reforms that have been enacted in a diverse group of countries, their impact on police-society relations, and perhaps most important, how sustainable they are proving to be in the current climate of democratic decline.

Mary Fran T. Malone is professor of political science at the University of New Hampshire. Lucía Dammert is professor of political studies at the University of Santiago, Chile. Orlando J. Pérez is professor of political science at the University of North Texas at Dallas.