Abstract

JIMENEZ-GARCIA, Williams Gilberto. Towards a typology of dangerous places. A case study of Commune 11 in Dosquebradas, Colombia. Rev. Crim. [online]. 2014, vol.56, n.1, pp.133-156. ISSN 1794-3108.

Construction and consolidation of places deemed to be dangerous and designated as such in cities are both the manifestation and measure of the impact of violence, criminals and inequality on those societies where these social phenomena take place. In this sense, the general purpose of this article is to provide a spatial analysis of these places from the concrete case study of "Comuna 11" in the municipality of Dosquebradas (Risaralda), and be able to typify them in a taxonomical fashion. The methodological design is of a descriptive-phenomenological nature with the application of an assessment instrument aimed at examining the perception local households have in relation to given spaces in the neighborhood and/or the Commune itself. In this sense, the main conclusion attained was that sceneries like bridges, parks and streets in this municipality are what is known as crime hotspots or crime-favoring places ("lugares crimípetos") which offer high possibilities of success at the time of committing a crime, due to their socio-spatial features; this condition has an influence on how certain sites are perceived by local residents. Finally, the purpose of this kind of information is to build local intervention policies facing the threat of violence, with a significant impact on the opinion of the inhabitants.

Keywords : Crimes; public security; dangerousness; places; hotspots.

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