Perception and reality of Crime in Tolima During the Liberal Republic

Abstract

This article examines some violent crimes that occurred in the Colombian department of Tolima between 1930 and 1946, to rethink the perception that Tolima society had of criminality. It is stated that some crimes that have been associated with political violence in Tolima after 1946 were also recorded during The Liberal Republic. From the analysis of statistics and criminal cases, the idea of criminality is reconfigured and the main characteristics of the judicial system and legal culture of liberal governments are outlined, which implemented new techniques to contain the alleged criminal escalation.