Abstract

JIMENEZ VARGAS, María Margarita  and  CASAS-CASAS, Andrés. To tell or not Tell: The Analytics of the Incidence of Complaints on the Outcomes of Extortive Kidnapping Cases in Colombia. Pap.polit. [online]. 2012, vol.17, n.1, pp.119-158. ISSN 0122-4409.

Kidnapping in Colombia has constituted a recurrent and generalized practice. Despite the efforts made by the State to control and reduce kidnappings, the phenomenon persists. One of the ways how the State answers to this problem depends on citizen's cooperation through complaints. In consequence, this research aims to establish the incidence of complaints on the outcomes of extortive kidnapping situations in Colombia for the period 1970-2010. To achieve this general objective, our research develops three specific goals: First, we establish the way how kidnapping policies incorporate or not complaints as a strategic component in the struggle against kidnapping. Secondly, we identify the factors that motivate or inhibit a kidnapping complaint based on a multidimensional analytical framework. Finally, we analyze the outcome of extortive kidnapping situations when a complaint has been established. Our conclusions are drawn from the results of the data we gathered, analyzed and contrasted out of two types of samples and from two different perspectives: qualitative based on kidnapping cases, and quantitative from a judicial source data base.

Keywords : Anti-kidnapping Policy; Extortive kidnapping; Complaints; Analytical Political Science; Political Aspects of kidnapping; Kidnapping; Political aspects; Crimes against persons; Political science - Colombia.

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