Though police are supposed to serve and protect, they all too often rob and abuse. Why? And what can be done about it? That is the central puzzle addressed in this book.

Drawing on the disparate cases of Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, Diego Esparza analyzes why some countries' police forces are more corrupt than others and considers what policy initiatives can turn an abusive police force into one that works for its citizens. His findings, perhaps most notably, fundamentally challenge assumptions about the virtues of local control.

Diego Esparza is assistant professor of political science at the University of North Texas.