The Academic and Social Criminological Observatory and the Association of Criminologists have established five strategies to strengthen public prevention and awareness in Panama.
One of the strategies is to incorporate components of informal social control, involving community leaders, authorities, and the private sector in prevention and awareness actions. Another is the professionalization of the criminological system, ensuring the presence of criminologists in various councils and ensuring their active participation in the formulation of public policies.
It is essential to ensure resources and budgetary independence for the Executive Secretariat of Criminological Policy and to strengthen personnel training with training programs tailored to local and national needs. The creation of the digital magazine "Criminology" and cooperation with national observatories are key measures to promote knowledge exchange in the field of criminology.
Additionally, there is a desire to consolidate the organization and planning of projects in areas of social risk, promoting initiatives that include social control, community mediation, and situational analysis. This approach will initially be implemented in vulnerable areas such as Colón, Panama, San Miguelito, and West Panama.
Another proposed strategy is to strengthen comprehensive prevention through the development of educational programs in educational, community, and penitentiary institutions. Collaboration with Justices of the Peace is essential to promote community mediation and peaceful conflict resolution in communities.
Finally, the importance of integrating multiple sectors, including government, the private sector, and communities, is highlighted to promote sustainable changes in the criminological field. These strategies aim to reduce criminal acts and improve the social fabric in the country, from a perspective of comprehensive prevention and social justice.
