PREVENTIVE POLICING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: THE CONTRIBUTION OF PMZITO TO STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY POLICING IN THE STATE OF PARÁ

Abstract

Contemporary public security has increasingly adopted preventive strategies aimed at strengthening citizenship, social inclusion, and the relationship between police institutions and the community. In this context, the PMZITO Program, developed by the Military Police of the State of Pará, represents an important primary prevention initiative focused on the civic education of children and adolescents through educational, cultural, sports, and social activities. This study aimed to analyze the contribution of the PMZITO Program to strengthening preventive policing and community policing in the State of Pará. This is a qualitative, applied, descriptive, and exploratory study, developed through bibliographic, documentary, and field research. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire administered to military police officers and analyzed using Bardin's Content Analysis technique. The findings indicate that the program strengthens preventive policing practices, promotes closer relationships between the police and the community, encourages citizenship and human rights values, and contributes to building a culture of peace. The study also identified challenges related to expanding police training, increasing institutional support for preventive actions, and broadening the program's implementation. It is concluded that PMZITO is a relevant institutional policy for social prevention, contributing to the strengthening of community policing and to the promotion of more humane, participatory, and effective public security.