VIOLENT CRIMES IN BRAZIL: AN INTERPORAL ASSESSMENT BASED ON GEOMETRIC BoD

The present study aims to analyze the performance of Brazilian states in relation to violent crimes through the construction of a composite index based on the Benefit of the Doubt (BoD) approach, derived from Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Four indicators are considered: homicide, robbery, bodily injury followed by death, and femicide, using data from 2022 to 2024. The research incorporates an intertemporal analysis, allowing to evaluate the evolution of performance over time and identify patterns, benchmarks and changes in the efficiency of the states. In addition, three distinct target scenarios are explored, including government targets, national averages, and more stringent targets. The results show high heterogeneity among the states, with non-linear trajectories of performance and sensitivity to the rigor of the goals adopted. The study contributes by proposing a dynamic approach to public security assessment, offering support for decision-making and the improvement of public policies.