Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro State

Coat of arms

The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro State (Polícia Civil do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, in Portuguese) is the police force responsible for criminal investigations in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil. Formed in 1808, it is subordinated to the state government and directed by a Chief of Police, chosen by the state's Governor.

Roles and functions today

Police car

Mobile forensic unit

Police car - 2010

The police activity of prevention and repression of the penal infractions is exercised by the Police Stations situated in the police circumscriptions which correspond to the geographic areas of the suburbs of Rio Metropolitan Region or the country municipalities.

Each Police Station is directed by a Police Delegate helped by Adjunctive Police Delegates, chiefs of police groups and police services.

According to their geographic localization in the territory of the State, the Police Stations are subordinate to one of the three great operational departments of the Police: of the Capital (Rio de Janeiro city), of the "Baixada Fluminense" (municipalities which form Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area, except Rio de Janeiro city) and Inland (which contains ten regions).

The criminal investigations developed by the police stations may be supported by the Specialized Police Department, through its specialized organs (divisions) when repressing the homicide crimes of unknown authors, narcotics, robbery, theft and large frauds.