Some 98.5 percent of the crimes committed in Mexico go unpunished, the Milenio newspaper reported over the weekend, citing a new study by the Monterrey Institute of Technology.
Of the 7.48 million crimes – both federal and common – committed in Mexico this year, according to the study, the conviction rate has been only about 1 percent.
Only about 64,000 crimes have been reported, the study found.
About 15 percent of reported crimes are investigated, but only about 4 percent of the cases are completed due to the “slowness in the majority of the proceedings and failure to comply with the law,” the study said.
The average length of an investigation, however, has been reduced substantially from 269 days in 2006 to 130 days today.
Only about 1.75 percent of suspects ever get convicted, with the sentences imposed totaling 112,249.
The study was prepared using figures from President Felipe Calderon’s fourth state of the nation report, which came out in September, as well as other official statistics.
Projections in the study assume that the trends in the official figures will continue.
The judicial reforms enacted in 2008, calling for the use of oral hearings to speed cases through court, have been implemented in only seven states. Mexico has 31 states plus a Federal District.
A study released by the Private Security Council, meanwhile, said in a report that Mexico City had the second-highest number of drug-related crimes and kidnappings in the country.
The report issued by the council, which is made up of about 200 private security firms, said the drug business grew about 20 percent in Mexico City in one month, while nearly half of kidnappings were of the “express” variety, 26.8 percent were conventional and 21.9 percent were carried out with the goal of murdering the victim.
The high crime rate, according to the council, is fueled by the fact that 60 percent of the 110,000 police officers in the capital are assigned to the bank and security divisions, which guard businesses and commercial buildings.
Well, there you go!
ReplyDeleteCrime in Mexico will continue to run it's course if the criminals will be shown the exit door to freedom.
Legal reform is necessary in Mexico before the US wastes anymore money and armaments to fight the drug cartels down there. Otherwise, it's all a dog and pony show.
I agree with the comment of a "dog and pony show". Or more appropriately, a "burro" show in Tijuana.
ReplyDeleteAs a Monterrey resident for most of my life, it is the endemic corruption that is most disgusting. Many of us have faced some sort of criminal act and never reported it because we don't trust the authorities.
The system of law here is a shambles and police and military protection a joke. On a recent trip back from the US, police stopped us and told us that only one bag per person was allowed and that he was going to seize the vehicle. But he disappeared after I handed him $40 US. The cops here spend much of their time rousting citizens and travelers for $20 here and $20 there.
Repeatedly, you can see reports on TV that show police stumbling on cartel action and merely turning their trucks around and racing out of the area. Or worse, they are protecting the cartels who pay them.
If you abuse the public trust, the penalty should be severe, but here in Mexico the jailers let you out and loan you guns to kill.
It will never stop. Unless we attacke the families of the cartel members and visit upon them the same that they give to us, they will never stop. And we need to bring in an international force and admit we are powerless to control the situation.
The corruption goes right to the top here. How can anyone ever expect things to change?
There is plenty of criminality with impunity here in the US, too. Since most Mexicans get it thrown their way street level, they mistakenly seem to assume that criminal impunity is not a fact in the US. WRONG. It's at the level involving billions upon trillions of dollar in the US.
ReplyDeleteErnest1
White collar crimes in the US go uninvestigated and unpunished. The difference between Mexico and the USA is that in Mexico 'con el dinero el perro baila", and in America it is prejudices and not money that make the dog dance.The sad reality is that instead of America helping Mexico elevate their standards, Mexico is helping America lower theirs!
ReplyDeleteMexicans are generaly decietful and manipulative the legal institutions in Mexico reflect the culture,a complete overhaul is needed such as suspending civil rights these criminals can not be allowed to get out of jail. Mexicos judiciary is unworkable civil and criminal,hell there is a war going on Do Sompthing.
ReplyDelete"Repeatedly, you can see reports on TV that show police stumbling on cartel action and merely turning their trucks around and racing out of the area. Or worse, they are protecting the cartels who pay them."
ReplyDeletethis is most true, i was hassled out of $20.00 and i felt disgusted with myself, as a woman traveling alone with children back into the USA from Matamoros, and being told by this "police officer" that he would confiscate my drivers license and issue me a ticket for running a stop sign that i did not ran, i felt like i had no choice. he told me my other option was to follow him to the court in the road heading to Victoria to pick up my drivers license-YEAH RIGHT! funny thing is that when i tried to get his plate numbers he stood in front of his truck to block them-NOW THESE ARE REAL PIGS!