Public policies for mitigating the control of criminal organizations

an analysis of the Morar Melhor Housing Complex in Porto Velho, Rondônia

Abstract

Every day, graffiti and other markings of gang activities are observed in neighborhoods and cities. Not only this, but the expansion of criminal organizations in Brazil itself, particularly in the housing complexes of the Minha Casa Minha Vida Program, is also evident. The study aims to investigate how government actions, through public policies, can mitigate the control of criminal gangs in affordable housing, also known as social housing, specifically in Residencial Morar Melhor, in Porto Velho, Rondônia. To this end, a descriptive methodology was adopted, using quantitative data from the Rondônia State Military Police and bibliographic research, including scientific articles and books. The public policies adopted through Operation SUFOCARE and the Alliance for Life Plan, established by Decree No. 30,022/2025, were analyzed. In this sense, the findings showed that with police presence, Residencial Morar Melhor yielded positive results, reducing the number of disturbances and increasing arrests. Furthermore, it presented an alternative to intervention (when criminal factions are already in control), a preventive strategy of targeted occupation, focused on the government's presence during the delivery of housing units, as well as their continued existence in the condominiums. Therefore, measures are presented that can be implemented to benefit the population and can be expanded to other locations in the state of Rondônia, ensuring a safe environment and guaranteeing rights.