This study assesses the applicability of the Cambridge Crime Harm Index (CCHI) in Brazil by comparing traditional hot-spot analysis based on crime counts with harm-spot analysis based on the severity of crimes. Using police data from Belo Horizonte and Minas Gerais, the research applied the CCHI by weighting occurrences according to minimum legal penalties established in Brazilian law. The findings revealed substantial spatial reconfigurations when adopting harm spots instead of simple frequency-based mapping. The harm-based approach identified critical points that were overlooked by conventional methods and reclassified spatial priorities in the sample sectors. These results demonstrate that severity weighting provides a more accurate representation of the impact of crime, supporting more equitable and effective policing strategies. The study contributes to the advancement of evidence-based public security policies in Brazil and offers new perspectives on the application of harm-based crime analysis in countries with complex legal systems and high crime rates.
