History
The program, initially called Social Defense and Conflict Mediation Graduate program (PPGDSMC), was initiated by a group of professors and researchers from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), who developed their research on the subject "Violence and Non-Violence" in Social Processes, which culminated in the establishment, in 2002, of lato sensu (Specialization) courses, initially in partnership with the Department of Public Security and Social Defense of the State of Pará and later with the Ministry of Justice, through the National Network of Higher Studies in Public Security (SENASP / RENAESP), focused especially (but not exclusively) on specialization / improvement of public security agents.
Over the years there has been a considerable volume of undergraduate theses focusing on violence, conflict and public safety in a total of eleven 11 courses offered at the Specialization level, with more than 500 trained specialists. On December 3, 2014, the Program changed its name to Public Security Graduate Program (PPGSP) and Evaluation Area to the Interdisciplinary area.
The experience of RENAESP with Specialization courses in almost all Brazilian states, in two versions, led to a workshop with the participation of SENASP and CAPES Managers held on April 19 and 20, 2010 in Brasília. The purpose of the meeting was to provide guidance for future work on new Master's programs in Public Security, Criminal Justice and related fields.
UFPA professors who work on the theme participated in this workshop. From then on, UFPA professors' group intensified the work aiming at the elaboration of a proposal of a Professional Master's Degree in the subject of Public Security called Social Defense and Conflict Mediation Graduate Program (PPGDSMC), Professional Master in Social Defense and Conflict Mediation. The proposal was sent to CAPES to be evaluated in the area of Sociology considering that, at the time of sending the proposal, most of the professors had a background in Social Sciences. However, today, we reiterate that the academic production of the PPGSP professors is totally in line with the Interdisciplinary area.
PPGSP is considered the first stricto sensu Program of Brazil directed to the exclusive formation of masters in the area of Public Security. It is located in the northern region of Brazil, in Belém, the capital of Pará, that recorded the highest homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants (63.9) in 2010, compared to other ten Brazilian capitals. In addition to the Paraense population, PPGSP has served candidates from other states in the North region, such as Amapá and also the state of Maranhão, Northeast of Brazil. In the four selection processes there was an average of 10 candidates per vacancy.
Today, the Program presents a modern and up-to-date curriculum in relation to studies on Public Security and Violence, with applications focused on statistical modeling, database formation and focused analyses on social, geographic and psychology sciences, whose developed works are gradually consolidated as part of the same process of research and construction of knowledge.
The products, result of this combination of interests, can be visualized in the already achieved results, such as in the 21 dissertations defended. Also, the publication of two books entitled "Public Security: A Statistical and Computational Approach", volumes 1 and 2, can be counted in 2008, and each volume brings together eight articles from the professors' researches, highlighting applied statistical techniques. In 2013, the release of the books: "Campus Security" and "In the Periphery of Policing: Human Rights, Violence and Police Practices", all written by the professors and students of PPGSP. In addition, the approval of international cooperation projects coordinated by PPGSP professors and supported by CAPES / AULP - Association of Portuguese Language Universities is highlighted.
Objective
The main objective of the Public Security Graduate Program (PPGSP) is to meet the growing demand for the development of basic and applied research in Public Security. PPGSP trains professionals to work in governmental and non-governmental institutions in Brazil and abroad, with the aim of promoting the expansion and deepening of knowledge in Public Security, fostering creativity in the scientific and technological areas and also generating new knowledge in Public Security. In addition, the Program aims to: (i) Prepare qualified human resources to carry out Public Security activities; (ii) Improve the professional qualification of public security officers in the police and social defense activities; (iii) To develop research activities and reflections on issues such as: social conflicts, human rights, citizenship applied to public security, as well as informational tools applied to police activity; (iv) Encourage the production of knowledge about public security, crime and social conflicts supported by informational methods and technologies, regarding Brazil and the world, especially in the Amazon region and abroad. The focus of the Program is the training of human resources to meet, mainly, the regional and national demands for teaching, scientific research, extension and professional activity in key areas for the improvement of public safety, a proposal that is in line with the guidelines of the Interdisciplinary Area of CAPES.