Compliance in public companies in the face of corruption in the Azogues canton from a criminological perspective

Abstract

Deficient oversight in public administration constitutes a structural problem that fosters the consolidation of corruption in various public enterprises. In the context of the Azogues canton, given its small size, public enterprises exhibit vulnerabilities in prior control, which triggers behaviors that fuel corruption by normalizing actions that violate regulations. This scientific article stems from a formative research activity that promotes the link between teaching and research. Its central objective is to analyze the application of an accomplice prevention program in the public enterprises of the Azogues canton, integrating criminological theories of opportunity and differential association with current regulations, in order to strengthen a proposed preventive model applicable to these enterprises. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach, implemented through semi-structured interviews with officials from public companies in the Azogues canton. The content of these interviews was categorized and systematized using Atlas.ti software, allowing for the identification, through discourse analysis, of factors and organizations that influence the phenomenon of corruption. The findings demonstrate that the current punitive model is insufficient to curb corruption in public companies. Furthermore, the research indicates that implementing an accomplice model with a criminological focus contributes to a shift from punitive administrative law to preventive administrative law.