Continuing the conversation between the commander and his team, considering that the Military Police’s activity is essentially preventive and ostensible, the commander highlights that, although repression is also part of the work, it usually occurs as an emergency response to crimes in progress, especially in cases of domestic violence. He reinforces some important points for adequate care in these situations.

Major Gonçalves: “Gentlemen, as you know, with the new changes in the law, we have to be agile and precise in cases of domestic violence. Now, any hesitation on our part can put the victim at greater risk.”

Sergeant Lima: “Commander, when we talk about violence, we’re not just talking about physical aggression, right?”

Major Gonçalves: “Exactly, Mendes. The law does not limit violence to only physical aspects. We must also be attentive to psychological violence and crimes against honor, such as defamation and slander, that sometimes precede something more serious. In other words, we need to act as soon as there is any sign of danger.”

Private Carla: “So, Commander, does that mean we don’t have a choice to intervene or not? Even if the victim hesitates to ask for help?”

Major Gonçalves: “That’s right, Carla. The law is clear: We do not choose to intervene; we are obliged to intervene. Our mission is to guarantee the safety of the victim, and the Constitution supports us in this front line to protect these women.”

Corporal Mendes: “And after the initial care, we continue with the transfer to the Civil Police, correct?”

Major Gonçalves: “Correct. We ensure security and provide first aid. In cases of flagrante delicto, we take the person directly to the police station. After that, the Civil Police will take charge of the arrest and investigation.”

Private Carla: “And the process goes ahead, to the Judiciary, right? I always wonder how everything is connected.”

Major Gonçalves: “Exactly. Our work is just the first stage, Carla. We are part of a larger system - the Criminal Justice System. The Civil Police proceeds with the investigation, and then, the Judiciary takes over the trial. It is a chain of protection and justice that begins with us. We are here to ensure the first step is taken with responsibility and firmness.”

Corporal Mendes: “Commander, our role is more than just responding to incidents. We are part of something bigger.”

Major Gonçalves: “Perfect, Mendes. We are the guarantors of the rights of these women. We need to act with the awareness that our every step can be decisive for their safety and dignity. Our action is part of the network to combat domestic violence. Remember: we are the answer they seek in a moment of despair.”

The greatest challenge for Major Gonçalves, commander of the XX BPM, is to guide and train military police officers working in ostensive policing on the importance of guaranteeing women’s rights and acting in accordance with the law. In addition to following legal norms, it is essential that police officers develop skills to address cultural issues, such as structural machismo and patriarchy, which often lead even the victims to not recognize their condition of vulnerability.

Major Gonçalves’s decision is complex, as the issue of domestic violence involves several areas and public policies, such as criminal justice, public health, and citizenship. Within the military structure, it is crucial to invest at the tactical level so that it can sensitize the operational level (police officers who are on the front line) to comply with the legislation and apply best practices when dealing with cases of domestic violence.

Military organizations are structured based on the principles of hierarchy and discipline, which guide all activities. This structure, reinforced by specific codes and regulations, provides Major Gonçalves with a clear view of the tactical and operational possibilities to improve the performance of the police under his command.

However, he faces several dilemmas:

Investigate inappropriate conduct - “Would instituting investigation procedures, such as the Military Police Inquiry or the Administrative Disciplinary Process, help correct errors? Would this be the ideal way to deal with conduct that violates the Military Penal Code or disciplinary rules during care?

Major Gonçalves also asks: “What other management strategies could we implement based on previous case studies? Are there police forces in Brazil that have adopted effective methodologies in dealing with domestic violence that could be adapted to our reality?”

The implementation of legal reforms, such as those promoted by the Maria da Penha Law, reflects the state’s role in strengthening the protection of women and addressing domestic violence with more effective legislative and institutional responses. Table 1 illustrates the main actions of the state over the years, including the creation of new criminal offenses, such as the crime of violation of privacy, the strict monitoring of urgent protective measures (UPMs), and the increase in sentences in cases of femicide. These changes represent a continuous effort to improve the performance of criminal justice agencies, making the system more responsive and aligned with social demands. The following questions aim to promote discussions about the effectiveness of these reforms and the operational challenges that the justice system faces when applying them, encouraging a critical and reflective analysis of the interdependence of subsystems and the role of each institution in addressing domestic violence.

Table 1

State action	Legal reform
Creation of new criminal offenses: Violation of a woman’s privacy by unauthorized recording of content containing nudity or sexual or libidinous acts of an intimate and private nature	A Law no. 13,772 (2018), of December 2018 (Lei n.º 13.772, 2018) criminalized the following conducts (Art. 216-B): to produce, photograph, film, or record, by any means, content with a nude scene or sexual or libidinous act of an intimate and private nature without the consent of the participants. Penalty: Detention, from six months to one year, and fine. Sole paragraph: The same penalty applies to anyone who edits a photograph, video, audio or any other record with the aim of including a person in a scene of nudity or sexual or lewd act of an intimate nature.
Women who suffered violence and requested urgent protective measures (UPM) Operationalization of inspection and monitoring of emergency protective measures	The Maria da Penha Law (Art. 22) allows the judge to apply urgent protective measures (UPMs) to the aggressor, such as removal from home, prohibition of contact, prohibition from frequenting certain places, and participation in recovery programs. After the approval of the UPM, the Military Police conducts periodic visits to monitor compliance with the determinations. Prior to 2018, UPM violation was not a crime; Law no. 13,641 (2018), (Lei n.º 13.641, 2018) made such conduct a crime, with the penalty increased by Law no. 14,994 (2024), October 9, 2024 (Lei n.º 14.994, 2024) to two to five years’ imprisonment and a fine.
Recrudescence of penalties: Crime of femicide	The crime of femicide consists of killing a woman for reasons related to her gender, that is, because she is a woman. The penalty for femicide is imprisonment, ranging from 20 to 40 years. In addition, the penalty for femicide can be increased by one-third to one-half if the crime is committed under certain aggravating circumstances, such as: During pregnancy, in the three months following childbirth, or if the victim is the mother or guardian of a child, adolescent, or person with a disability. When the victim is under 14 years of age, over 60 years of age, or has a disability or a condition of physical or mental vulnerability. If the crime occurs in the presence, whether physical or virtual, of a descendant or ancestor of the victim, such as children or parents. In cases of noncompliance with urgent protective measures, provided for by the Maria da Penha Law. In other specific situations of increased penalty provided for in the Penal Code, such as crimes committed by insidious or cruel means, with difficulty in defending the victim, or to ensure impunity for another crime.

Note. Elaborated by the Authors.

Discussion: The study of the subject is connected to the areas of criminal law, public policy, and sociology, allowing a critical analysis of how legislative reforms impact the dynamics between security and justice agencies. Students should be encouraged to discuss the application of these changes in the Brazilian reality, considering, for example, the creation of new criminal offenses, the monitoring of urgent protective measures (UPMs), and the intensification of sentences for the crime of femicide.

Theoretical basis: To understand how the recent changes in the Maria da Penha Law can be used to minimize or solve problems related to domestic violence, one can turn to the punitive response theory (Foucault, 2014), which discusses how the state, through laws and punitive systems, aims to control behaviors and protect certain social groups. Legislative reforms, such as the creation of new criminal offenses, the inspection of urgent protective measures (UPMs), and the increase in penalties for femicide, seek not only to punish aggressors but also to establish effective protection mechanisms for victims. In addition, the concept of public security policies (Lotta, 2019) can be used to analyze how state actions, such as the implementation of UPMs and the creation of new criminal offenses, are part of a greater effort to articulate the different levels of government to reduce domestic violence and promote gender equity.

Discussion: This question seeks to stimulate a critical analysis of the operational complexity of the justice system in the context of the Maria da Penha Law reforms, encouraging students to reflect on how different institutions interact to effect legislative changes.

Based on general systems theory, students can explore how the interdependence and possible imbalances between subsystems impact the process of victim protection and the implementation of urgent protective measures (UPMs), in addition to reflecting on strategies that could lead to more effective cooperation.

Theoretical basis: When discussing the challenges of the criminal justice system in the implementation of the Maria da Penha Law reforms, a relevant approach is general systems theory (Luhmann, 1997), which explores how different subsystems, such as the police, the Public Ministry, and the Judiciary, interact within a broader system. The theory suggests that these subsystems, although independent, need to work in a coordinated manner to ensure the effectiveness of legal reforms. The idea of loosely adjusted systems (Vidal, 2023) highlights how the interactions between these agencies can be disjointed due to a lack of communication and integration, resulting in operational challenges in dealing with domestic violence. This concept also helps to understand the need to improve communication and cooperation between institutions to ensure that reforms, such as the application of UPMs and the fulfillment of stricter sentences, are truly effective in protecting victims.

Discussion: The change in the treatment of crimes of threat to unconditional public prosecution, introduced by Law no. 14.994 (2024), requires the immediate referral of the aggressor to the police station, regardless of the victim’s manifestation, reducing police discretion. In addition Law no. 13.880 (2019), requires the mandatory seizure of firearms in the possession of the aggressor, imposing logistical and security challenges. These requirements limit the flexibility of agents, who need to follow strict legal procedures, even in emotionally complex situations. Students can discuss how the reduction in police discretion influences the protection perceived by victims, their trust in the justice system, and the adaptation of agents to the emotional and practical demands of each case. They can also explore the strategies that police officers can adopt to communicate mandatory procedures, welcome victims, and ensure their safety. In addition, it is possible to analyze the specific challenges of weapon seizures, such as risk management during operations and the psychological impact on the victim when witnessing the withdrawal of weapons, reinforcing state action against violence.

Theoretical basis: The theory of street-level bureaucrats (Lipsky, 2019) can guide analysis, discussing how front-line professionals balance institutional norms with the practical and emotional needs of the public they serve. The obligation to take unconditional public action and the seizure of weapons create a context in which police officers must reconcile compliance with legal norms with effective protection and building trust with victims. The theory can help explore the limits and possibilities of police adaptation to these demands.

In the closing phase, the teacher must consolidate the main points discussed during the previous stages and integrate them into the theoretical framework used throughout the course. The conclusion should address:

(1) Innovative solutions to improve the performance of security agents in the fight against domestic violence.

If class time does not allow for the discussion to conclude, students may be invited to prepare a mind map summarizing the main points discussed and their conclusions, to be handed in as an after-class activity.