DEMOCRACY AND CONTROL

A POLICE CASE

Abstract

This article analyzes the mechanisms for controlling police activity in Brazil, discussing their effectiveness and limitations from a democratic perspective. The central objective was to assess the extent to which internal and external supervision mechanisms contributed to the transparency and accountability of security forces. To this end, bibliographic and documentary research was used, using the deductive method, through a descriptive study, with a qualitative emphasis. The results confirmed the hypothesis that the control mechanisms presented structural and institutional deficiencies, allowing excessive autonomy for security agents and making it difficult to monitor abuses. There was a need for reforms to strengthen supervision mechanisms, increase institutional transparency and encourage social participation in the regulation of police activity. Greater autonomy for internal affairs bodies, improvement of monitoring tools and continuous training of agents are recommended. The main contribution of this study is the critical evaluation of the police control structure, highlighting paths for improvement. Future research can explore successful international models and their possible adaptation to the Brazilian context.