This study sought to calculate an efficiency index in crime fighting that would allow comparison between Minas Gerais State military police units. The efficiency index were calculated by Data Envelopment Analysis and the results indicated a large discrepancy between the municipalities analyzed and possible public security policy could try to raise efficiency levels in the worst municipalities using the most efficient ones as benchmarks. Furthermore, a Tobit model was estimated to test the relevance of the social and economic environmental exercised in achieving the efficiency index. The results showed that the set of variables used explained only 10% of the variability of the index calculated.
criminality; public safety; public policies; Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)
