🇧🇷 Santa Catarina: The Southern Beacon of Public Security in Brazil

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Amsterdam, July 11th, 2025 – As Brazil grapples with the challenge of modernizing its public safety systems, one state continues to defy national averages and sets an impressive standard for the rest of the country. Santa Catarina, nestled in the country’s south, is often celebrated for its breathtaking coastline and strong industrial base—but increasingly, it’s drawing attention for something far more impactful: its public security.
🚔 A Model of Safety
According to recent crime statistics, Santa Catarina consistently ranks among Brazil’s safest states. With a notably low homicide rate, a high resolution of criminal cases, and a visible, community-engaged police force, the state’s security framework is rooted in both strategic intelligence and local presence. What sets the region apart is not just the strength of its institutions, but also the political will behind them.
🏛️ Leadership That Resists Centralization

Federal Deputy Caroline de Toni has spotlighted her home state’s success as President Lula introduces a sweeping federal security concept. While national efforts aim to unify strategies across Brazil, de Toni argues that top-down mandates may overlook local realities—and in Santa Catarina’s case, stifle a system that clearly works.

Governor Jorginho Mello has echoed this sentiment, firmly positioning his administration in defense of the state’s autonomy. He advocates for regional solutions to regional challenges and credits Santa Catarina’s success to this tailored approach. “We’re not looking to resist federal support—we’re simply saying that the model we’ve built here is already delivering results,” he said in a recent address.
🌐 Smart Investments, Real Results
Part of Santa Catarina’s strength lies in its investment in integrated digital surveillance systems, rapid-response units, and robust municipal guard programs. Cities like Joinville, Blumenau, and Florianópolis have become blueprints for coordinated urban security, where data analytics and community policing go hand in hand.
📈 An Example for the Nation
Santa Catarina’s model offers compelling lessons: empower local leadership, invest in tech-driven infrastructure, and engage citizens as stakeholders in their own safety. It’s a formula many believe should not be replaced—but rather replicated.
In a nation as vast and diverse as Brazil, one-size-fits-all solutions often fall short. Santa Catarina’s story is a reminder that progress doesn’t always come from the top—it can rise from the states, and from citizens, who know their streets better than anyone in Brasília.