FROM POLICING TO EDUCATIONAL PREVENTION AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PRÓ-VIDA PROGRAM AS A SCHOOL SECURITY POLICY IN AMAZONAS

Abstract

This article investigates the effectiveness of the PRÓ-VIDA Program as a school security policy in Amazonas. It is contextualized that, although the 1988 Constitution and complementary legislation guarantee education and security as fundamental rights, school violence and drug use constitute recurring challenges that require integrated preventive approaches. The research questions: was there alignment between the preventive activities of the PRÓ-VIDA Program of the Amazonas Civil Police and the psychosocial and pedagogical work of schools and the Child and Adolescent Protection Network in 2023 and 2024, and what was its proven effectiveness? The general objective is to investigate how these preventive actions aligned with psychosocial and pedagogical work. Specific objectives include: demonstrating how the police act in integrated prevention, identifying professionals' perceptions about effectiveness, and demonstrating effectiveness through quantitative data. A mixed-methods methodology was employed with 25 participants: civil police officers, school principals, teachers, social workers, psychologists, students, and parents/guardians. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Results reveal: 84% of participants consider the program effective; 86.7% of professionals report improvement in the school environment; 80% of parents perceive positive changes. However, only 32% identify effective alignment between PRÓ-VIDA and continuous psychosocial work, with 56% of educators reporting pedagogical discontinuity.