Next month, the World Justice Project will launch the WJP Mexico States Rule of Law Index 2019-2020—the second edition of a report delivering the most comprehensive measurement of the rule of law in Mexico's 32 states. In anticipation of sharing these findings, we take this moment to reflect on our Mexico team's multi-faceted projects investigating and reporting on the rule of law situation in the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. From a thorough statistical analysis of two criminal justice systems, to an interactive data microsite evaluating the function of police, to new data on torture and ill-treatment, to a creative media partnership highlighting the human face of access to justice—our team in Mexico continues to bring to light original, data-driven insight.
Read on to explore the latest news from Mexico, and stay tuned for the launch of the WJP Mexico States Rule of Law Index 2019-2020 on February 13.
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WJP Mexico States Rule of Law Index 2019-2020 Launches February 13
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Launching February 13, 2019 in Mexico City, the WJP Mexico States Rule of Law Index 2019-2020 report is the second edition of the most comprehensive measurement of the rule of law in Mexico's 32 states. The Index presents new data on the rule of law in Mexico, reflecting the perspectives and experiences of more than 25,000 citizens and more than 2,600 specialists in civil justice, criminal justice, labor justice, and public health, as well as the results of a variety of surveys and databases on topics related to the rule of law (third-party sources).
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Visit worldjusticeproject.mx on February 13 to download the WJP Mexico States Rule of Law Index 2019-2020, and to explore interactive data, multimedia, and insights. An English edition will follow the publication of the original Spanish.
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Evaluating the Effects of Mexico's Criminal Justice System Reform
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In 2008, Mexico's Federal Congress enacted a constitutional reform that changed the way country's the criminal justice system operates. Statistical Memory of the Transition between Two Mexicos: Achievements and Challenges of the New Criminal Justice System from WJP-Mexico comprises an effort to contribute to the greater understanding of some of the effects of the new criminal justice system (NCJS) from the perspective of persons deprived of liberty.
Findings include:
- Judicial Process: Judges have better performance in public hearings and proceedings are more transparent under the NCJS.
- Public Prosecutor Custody: There is a greater presence of the defense and records are more reliable under the NCJS.
- Detention: There is greater due process and there is a reduced use of force during detention and transfer under the NCJS.
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Inform to Transform:
Indicators of the Function of Police in Mexico
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In Mexico, evidence of abusive and corrupt police officers has sparked a public policy debate centered on the role of Mexico's local police. In part triggered by the large proportion of Mexican citizens who perceive neighborhood law enforcement to be ineffective, proposals have emerged to militarize public security and to roll back criminal justice reforms that are still in their infancy.
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Through an in-depth analysis of publicly available data from INEGI (the Mexican Census Bureau), and data from WJP's General Population Poll (GPP), WJP-Mexico has produced two key findings: 1) citizens' trust in local police is directly linked to their sense of security; 2) local governments can improve their law enforcement institutions to earn that trust.
Furthering the work of this analysis, a new interactive data microsite from WJP-Mexico now presents Indicators of the Function of Police in Mexico, including a proposal for metrics to measure progress.
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Special Report: Investigative Series Puts a Human Face on Access to Justice Issues in Mexico
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According to WJP data, one out of two Mexicans have experienced a justice problem in the last two years. The data also reveal a striking relationship between civil legal disputes and violence and/or health, economic, and interpersonal hardships.
A new online, interactive data journalism collaboration between World Justice Project and Animal Político explores the human stories behind Mexico’s many access to justice challenges. This special report, #EverydayJustice: Vulnerable Citizens in Mexico, goes beyond data analysis to tell personal narratives illuminating how everyday justice problems are experienced and navigated where people are also confronted with high levels of insecurity and violence.
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Torture and Ill-Treatment in the Criminal Justice System in Mexico
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Additionally, WJP-Mexico's project to integrate statistics and storytelling to combat torture in Mexico continues after its recognition as one of ten winning projects out of hundreds at the 2018 Paris Peace Forum. In November 2019, our Mexico team reconvened at the 2019 Paris Peace Forum to discuss the project's use of inmate surveys, data analysis, storytelling, and documentary filmmaking to promote more effective anti-torture norms and spark systemic reform.
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