Introduction

This chapter explores the historical experiences of a large and heterogeneous number of case studies where mano dura is generally understood to exist, it aspires to find common mechanisms and processes to understand both the rising popularity of these policing initiatives as well as their unintended consequences. It briefly discuss the concept of mano dura and its relevance when analyzing crime policies in LAC. The chapter concisely surveys different theoretical approaches to punitivism and some of the unintended consequences of mano dura beyond the criminal landscape. Scholars have offered different theoretically grounded explanations to understand the role of emotions and other cognitive factors affecting the punishment preferences of individuals. Studies focusing on victimization rates have been at the forefront of the empirical analyses in LAC. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.