Abstract

The concept of collective efficacy linked to the investigation of crimes in neighborhoods appeared in the United States in the 1990s and was soon recognized as a validated theory. However, its implementation in Latin America has evidenced some inconsistencies. Based on data from Bogota, Lima and Santiago, this article evaluates the factorial structure of the concept and its applicability to violent crime studies in neighborhoods in Latin America. For this purpose, the factorial models, the invariance, and the comparison of means were estimated. The findings show that collective efficacy comprises three dimensions (trust, cohesion, and informal social control). For each dimension, differentiated means are seen according to the experience of violent victimization and the city. Thus, the multidimensional composition of the collective efficacy offers a rewarding perspective to explore further the challenges of crime prevention in complex criminal environments in the global South.