Brazil spent R$137.9 billion on public security in 2023. The amount was published in the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook and points to a growth of 4.9% compared to 2022. This number is considered a record. Despite this, there is widespread difficulty in implementing public policies and spending resources provided by the National Public Security Fund (FNSP). Brazilian states accumulated R$2.8 billion transferred by the federal government for investments in the area of public security which were not spent. The main obstacle to the use of resources is the lack of technical teams prepared to deal with federal bureaucracy.
This Content Is Only For Subscribers
To unlock this content, subscribe to INTERLIRA Reports.
Return to the Federal Government
As a result, R$370 million from the National Public Security Fund could return to federal coffers at the end of the year as they had not been used within the established period. To avoid this, the Ministry of Justice will extend the deadline for resources transferred in 2019 and 2020 for another two years.
Task Force
Given this, the execution of the National Public Security Fund became the focus of Minister Ricardo Lewandowski. As soon as he took office, a budget x-ray was carried out, which found the funds stopped. As a result, a task force was created to try to help states use the available money. The ministry also expanded the range of public security actions that are eligible to receive these resources, which can facilitate the use of the money transferred, in the opinion of the ministry’s technicians.
Billing to the Federal Government
The federal government has been called upon to do more to combat crime, a topic now widely explored by the opposition to Lula (PT). The subject is one of the most concerning Brazilians today.
Objective of the Fund
The objective of the national fund is to support projects presented by the states. The list includes, for example, the creation of a women’s police station, the purchase of vehicles, or the implementation of body cameras for police officers.
Best Execution Rates
States such as São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Paraná —all led by governors opposed to Lula— currently have the best execution rates for the fund’s resources. Santa Catarina, also governed by the opposition, has the lowest percentage of resources executed, with only 34% of the R$100 million received. Data from the Ministry of Justice goes until 2022.
States that Used the Most Resources (until 2022)
- São Paulo – 85%
- Rio Grande do Sul – R$ 85%
- Paraná – 71%
States that Used the Least Resources (until 2022)
- Pará – 45%
- Tocantins – 36%
- Santa Catarina – 34%
Elections
Public security should be one of the main topics of this year’s municipal election, which should be repeated in the presidential race in 2026 — the fight against crime is one of the main subjects of opposition governors that intend to run for president.
Analysis:
Analysis of the data presented in the 2023 Brazilian Public Security Yearbook reveals a paradox in the management of public security in Brazil. Although total investment reached a record in 2022, the difficulty in implementing public policies and executing available resources prevents these investments from translating into significant improvements in public security. The main barrier to the effective use of resources is the lack of qualified technical teams to deal with the complexity of federal bureaucracy. This deficiency results in significant underutilization of funds transferred to states.
The creation of a task force by the Ministry of Justice and the expansion of public security actions eligible to receive these resources are positive steps. However, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on how quickly states can adapt their structures to take advantage of these changes.
In the political context, public security emerges as a central theme in this year’s municipal elections and, potentially, in the 2026 presidential race. The opposition to Lula’s government (PT) uses crime as a critical platform, putting pressure on the federal government to intensify its efforts to combat crime. Effective management of FNSP resources can become a decisive factor in the political agenda, influencing voters and shaping electoral discourse in the coming years.
Sources: A Folha de SP, R7.
