Crime According to Criminals: Testimonies of Repeat Offenders in Chilean Prisons; [la Delincuencia Según Delincuentes: Testimonios de Penados Reincidentes en Cárceles Chilenas]

This article analyzes the criminal phenomenon based on the testimony of 387 repeat offenders serving sentences in ten prisons in five regions of Chile. The analysis was based on applying grounded theory to the testimonies provided by the interviewed prisoners. It concludes that those who recognize themselves as criminals see the commission of crime as a profession from which they derive utility, that there is rationality in their criminal behavior, and that they have a selfish attitude that leads them—mostly—not to recognize the harm they cause their victims. Finally, the paper discusses some public policy options for confronting crime. © 2025 Escuela Militar de Cadetes. All rights reserved.