Acre sees first rise in violent deaths in four years, driven by gang conflicts
The Brazilian state of Acre experienced a 6.3% increase in intentional violent deaths (IVD) in 2025, reaching 191 cases. This marks the end of a three-year decline in such incidents and places Acre among seven Brazilian states that saw a rise in violent crime. The previous year, 2024, recorded 179 IVDs. The study, compiled by the Brazilian Public Security Forum (FBSP), indicates that intentional homicides accounted for 175 of the 191 IVDs in Acre during 2025. Conflicts between criminal factions were identified as the primary motivation for these homicides. The rate of murders per 100,000 inhabitants in Acre was 21.6, maintaining its 15th position nationally. Other states that registered an increase in IVDs include Rio Grande do Norte, Rondônia, Roraima, the Federal District, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Rio de Janeiro. Notably, Acre recorded 14 femicides in 2025, making it the deadliest year for women in the state this decade. The report also highlighted that less than half of homicides in Acre are solved. Two high-profile cases included the murder of dance professor Reginaldo Silva Corrêa, whose body was found in a shallow grave, and the femicide of Ivanilde Souza da Silva, who was killed with a meat cleaver.
The reversal of a three-year downward trend in violent deaths in Acre, as detailed in the Public Security Forum's annual report, warrants examination of the underlying systemic factors. The primary driver identified—factional conflict—suggests an ongoing struggle for control and influence within the state's illicit economies. The increase in intentional violent deaths, particularly homicides and femicides, indicates a potential breakdown in public safety mechanisms or an escalation in inter-group violence that has overwhelmed existing law enforcement capacities. The data points to a complex challenge where socio-economic conditions, the effectiveness of judicial processes in deterring crime, and the state's ability to disrupt criminal networks are all critical variables. Future policy interventions may need to address not only immediate security concerns but also the root causes of recruitment into criminal organizations and the persistent low rate of homicide resolution, which can foster impunity.
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