The Public Prosecutor’s Offices in Brazilian states: differences in autonomy and capacity

Abstract

The Brazilian Public Prosecutor’s Office is known for its autonomy and low levels of accountability. However, the literature has yet to explore the diversity among the Public Prosecutor’s Offices in Brazilian states, neglecting the territorial dimension in analyses and how different local political dynamics influence these organizations’ autonomy and capacity. Thus, this article aims to understand to what extent the Public Prosecutor’s Offices in Brazilian states differ in terms of their financial autonomy and capacity. The study employed mixed methods of analysis and proposes an autonomy and capacity indicator. The results unveiled significant diversity and considerable inequality among the offices. Furthermore, it was possible to observe how these differences reflect the territorial dimension and local political dynamics.

Keywords:
autonomy; state capacity; public prosecutor’s office; federalism