Além dos limites da escola : explorando o impacto do Proerd sobre a criminalidade local

Abstract

This research aims to evaluate the potential effects of the Programa de Resistência às Drogas e à Violência (Proerd) in reducing crime in the vicinity of the benefited schools in João Pessoa, Paraíba. Using georeferenced data provided by the Secretaria da Segurança e da Defesa Social and the Polícia Militar da Paraíba, the aim is to analyze the impact of these interventions on reducing violence and their indirect effects on students’ academic performance. The database includes administrative information on the activities carried out in schools participating in the Program and the precise occurrence of violent property crimes (VPC) in the Capital between 2015 and 2020. The empirical strategy consists of comparing the incidence of VPC within an area of influence, defined by the schools that received the Proerd intervention, in comparison to locations outside the perimeter of influence. To estimate the impact of Proerd, it is adopted the differencein- differences method, comparing grids within a 0.5 km radius of schools with grids located between 0.5 and 1 km. Results show that Proerd’s actions reduced Violent Property Crimes (VPC) by up to 15.03% in the observed areas in João Pessoa, with more pronounced impacts on weekdays (15.78%) and at night (14.38%). The program showed greater effectiveness in crimes against people (13.33%) and commercial establishments (7.96%), reinforcing the importance of preventive interventions that integrate educational actions and community policing in promoting public safety.