Criminological conceptions of public anti-corruption prosecutors regarding corruption committed by mayors in Peru

Mejía E.C.; Ruiz A.D. · Sortuz (2023)

Resumen

Subjectivity influences the interpretation of anti-corruption regulations; therefore, this objective of the study was to identify conceptions among public prosecutors regarding corruption in local governments. Qualitative research was conducted under a constructivist paradigm and a reflexive thematic analysis (inductive and semantic) was applied, with semi-structured interviews with public anti-corruption prosecutors from Lima Metropolitan through convenience sampling. The criteria of credibility, reflexivity, and transparency were met, as well as the principles of risk-benefit analysis, equitable selection, and epistemological surveillance. Four themes were identified through the analysis: corruption as a disease, its adaptability, the corrupt majors’ motivations and the role of power. Such conceptions of public prosecutors are consistent with criminological theories of social learning, rationality, social control, and biology. This research is the first theoretical analysis of the conceptions of public anti-corruption prosecutors in Peru, and outlines the potential fields of study.

Instituciones: Universidad Antonio Ruiz de Montoya