CSI in the Tropics Experimental Evidence of Improved Public Service Delivery Through Coordination

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impacts of increased coordination, accountability, and leadership among teams of responsible public officials, with evidence from homicide investigations in Colombia. We randomly assigned the investigations of 66% of the 1,683 homicides occurring in Bogotá, Colombia, during 2016 to a new investigation procedure emphasizing these features. We find a statistically significant 30% increase in the conviction rate in the treatment group relative to the control group. Indicators of the quality of the investigative process also improve,as well as the rate at which a formal accusation is presented before a court.Complementary findings suggest that the treatment produces well-coordinated teams that can communicate more fluently. Also, a survey of investigative team members reveal that work motivation, the extent to which they receive feedback on their performance, the pertinence and effectiveness of their roles, and the perceived quality and coordination of the team all improve under the new scheme.

Police and judicial efficiency in Colombia

“…According to Gonzales and Posada (2001): "the main problems of the judicial system in Colombia were the high degree of congestion, slowness, and impunity" (p. 90). Additionally, Collazos et al (2020) show that Colombia is an ideal case study, given the poor performance of homicide investigations in the country with meager rates of charges and charges solved.…”

“…On the other hand, security spending in the Colombian case has increased in recent decades, since it was considered very small compared to national security threats (Holmes and Gutiérrez, 2014). Further, it gives a new contribution and perspectives to the crime studies widely analyzed in the country such as Laverde, Chavarro and Arce (2011); Tamayo and Norza (2017); Gonzales and Posada (2001); Ortega and Ortiz (2014); García (1998); Collazos, Fergusson, La Rota, Mejía, and Ortega (2020); Sanchez and Núñez (2001), M. Rubio (1995) and Echeverry (1998) among others.…”

Caracterización de la oferta del crimen en Colombia 2010-2017

“…Jaitman et al (2017) argumentan que el sistema judicial es ineficiente y no alcanza a resolver el 10 % de los delitos cometidos en el caso colombiano. Collazos et al (2020) muestran que Colombia es un estudio de caso ideal, dado el pobre desempeño de las investigaciones de homicidio en el país con muy bajas tasas de acusación e imputación de cargos. Adicionalmente, el narcotráfico hace mella en las cifras de seguridad de toda la región.…”