Actitudes favorables a las acciones por fuera de la ley para combatir el delito en Uruguay: el rol de la inseguridad y las creencias generales.

Abstract.In recent years, there has been debate over expanding public insecurity and the proliferation of more punitive claims from society, both globally and in Latin America in particular. This work aims to study the attitudes of Uruguayans on the adoption of actions outside the law in the prosecution and punishment of offenders. Specifically, the adoption of vigilante justice in some circumstances and justification for police action outside the law in order to guarantee the capture of criminals is addressed. This database LAPOP survey (Latin American Public Opinion Project, Vanderbilt University) conducted in 2008 is used. Analyzing data from different probit estimates, we see that the elements that correlate with each of the types of questions actions are different: while the approval of vigilante justice is related to the experience and the particular situation of the respondent, the police procedures approved by outlaw is associated with the general beliefs of the respondent. Thus, feeling unsafe in their own neighborhood and be passing an economic situation subjectively considered as a regular, increase the likelihood of assuming such position on vigilante justice. Moreover, adherence to police procedure relates more strongly with general political beliefs and level of concern for the public safety of the people These findings indicate that the formation of these attitudes have a differential dynamic and Uruguayans, justifying the action outside the law, distinguished according to the type of action involved and the actor who takes on.