The dynamics of criminal cooperation between the police and gangs in Honduras

Since the mid-1990s, Latin American countries have witnessed an increase in crime and violence, making it one of the most dangerous regions in the world. While social scientists attribute this growth to several factors, only a few studies underscore how police and criminal relations impact levels of violence. Using Honduras as a case study, this article uses 26 in-depth interviews with former Honduran gang members to explore mechanisms of collusion between the police and gangs. Findings show that three mechanisms summarize police-gang collusion. First, in environments characterized by the presence and competition of several armed actors, police officials use their repressive legal capacities to subdue but also to extort gangs. Second, gangs collude with police officers to buy protection and resources from authorities. As these interactions evolve and expand, police and gangs increase their stakes in the success of the criminal enterprise. And third, gangs seek to corrupt the police to expand their territorial control and influence state authorities; much of that effort is renegotiated through violence.