Introduction
We have compiled several research articles with a specific focus on public safety in
Mexico, including the police and judiciary’s ability to protect its citizens. Our research appears to display a common theme of state violence and police corruption among Mexican cities. These research articles highlight structural factors that contribute to ongoing violence and organized crime, including a remarkably weak connection between Mexican citizens and police or judicial authorities.
Annotated Bibliography
Herrera-Lasso, Luis. “Violence and Insecurity in Mexico: Guidelines for a New Strategy on Public Safety.” Latin American Policy, Volume 4, Issue 2, 2013.
onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/doi/pdf/10.1111/lamp.12021.
Violence and crime in Mexico have greatly increased since 2006. Herrera-Lasso
identified four contributing risk factors in Mexico’s institutions and social organization. They are an absence of authority, no punishment for committing crimes, a lack of community organization, and the inability for citizens to follow basic rules. Police are seen as ineffective and corrupt, and there is no trust between citizens and authority. Herrera-Lasso explains that city police have a limited ability to investigate and stop crime, and state or federal police brought in provide only a temporary solution and have little knowledge of the community (293). Crimes are committed without punishment due to poor policies, inefficient government agencies, and authorities accepting bribes (Herrera-Lasso 294). There is also little trust in the justice system, with only 6% of citizens believing judges do their jobs well (Herrera-Lasso 295). People believe action is taken only when those affected have power and influence (Herrera-Lasso 295). As criminals and authorities both continue to go unpunished, citizens are left completely unprotected (Herrera-Lasso 294).
López-Montiel, Angel Gustavo. “The Military, Political Power, and Police Relations in Mexico City.” Latin American Perspectives, vol. 27, no. 2, Mar. 2000, pp. 79–94., doi:10.1177/0094582×0002700205.|
In “The Military, Political Power, and Police Relations in Mexico City” López-Montiel describes Mexico City, a metropolis filled with rising crime and deteriorating living conditions. However, his article converges on the inefficient and corrupt police force and the incompetent judiciary system within Mexico’s capital city. The city’s police force is militarized and severely corrupt (López-Montiel 79) among political power has led to injustice for the everyday lives of citizens. The concern surrounding the government is also identified by López-Montiel as he best describes it as democratic with military participation (López-Montiel 88). This lack of consistency and stabilization within the government has failed to provide its citizens with an innoxious quality of life observed by most democratic governments around the world. By recounting the relationship between civilians and state, López-Montiel delineates a city whose citizens in need of consistent and immediate public safety. Nevertheless, efforts towards a safer and reliable police force are seen within the future.
Moloeznik, M.P. “Organized crime, the militarization of public security, and the debate on the “new” police model in Mexico.” Trends Organ Crim 16, 177–194 (2013). https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/10.1007/s12117-013-9186-4
In Mexico, high death counts consisting of state forces, drug cartels and civilians
show that violence dominates both the social and political context in the nation(Moloeznik 1). This is the result of various factors including fragmentation of political power, the left-over system from the previous government (including the manu militari method), and the recruitment of military deserters by organized crime. The most notable reason for the high death rate is the lack of responsibility by the previous government, and more specifically their use of arms in their attempt to combat crime and regain lost territory from organized crime. Moloeznik suggests that the next steps should include the responsibility of public safety being moved to the Department of Interior, as opposed to National Defense (military), incorporate a scientific police model, while also reconfirming the duties of each branch of government in order to have clear objectives in a precise timeline (Moloeznik 192).
Tello, Nelia. “Police Reforms: The Voice of Police and Residents in Mexico City.” Policing and Society: Community Policing in Latin America: Innovations and Challenges, vol. 22, no. 1, 2012, pp. 14-27.
Nelia Tello’s article “Police reforms: the voice of police and residents in Mexico
City’ writes on the public safety of the citizens in Mexico City. Tello considers the lack of public safety goes beyond crime, but the ongoing issue of the officer’s priorities and their lack of efficiency. The responsibility of general security issues rests within the police force, yet it hasn’t been met due to their motivation being political interest rather than societal needs. The officer’s roles are not in accordance; therefore, there has been a lack of credibility and confidence towards the police. Tello believes this affects the relationship between the police and community, as the citizens view the police as arrogant, corrupt, abusive and inefficient. Officers are around, yet aren’t following appropriate procedures, making their presence ghostly. Tello asserts the police-community relationship holds a considerable strain on public safety, and both groups must look at each other differently if they want a change.
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