Trust in the Police Among Youth in Central America: A Comparative Study

The Central American subregion has long been characterized by unique security challenges given high levels of violence and widespread gang influence. Despite the large segment of youth in this subregion, there is a critical gap in understanding youth perceptions of the police. This study conducts a comparative analysis of youth trust in the police in mano dura policing contexts in the north and a preventive policing context in the south of the subregion, each with varying levels of gang presence and influence. The study investigates levels of trust in the police among Central American adolescents in El Salvador ( N = 656), Honduras ( N = 745), and Panama ( N = 659) using cross-sectional data. Results reveal an association between high-risk youth in proximity to gangs and lower levels of trust in the police in Panama. Perceptions of school safety and self-reported substance use are associated with levels of trust in the police in El Salvador, Honduras, and Panama. Findings highlight the distinct nature of former and current pervasive gang contexts in comparison to a more localized gang context in Central America. The article concludes with novel insights and implications for improved youth–police relations across disparate gang and policing contexts.