4th Quarter Report - FY2009: Rule of Law Project: Mexico

Agency for International Development, aims to support Mexican criminal justice reforms at both the state and federal levels. The project focuses on reforming the criminal justice system, improving access to justice for marginalized populations, and strengthening civil society participation. Technical assistance and training are provided to all stages of the criminal code reforms, as well as to key justice sector institutions, including the police and prosecutors, public defense, and Attorney General's office. Training on the Criminal Code of Procedure (CCP) was completed for 3,888 justice sector personnel at federal and state levels in five states. A model template for legislation was drafted to incorporate pre-trial services into the code of criminal procedure at the federal and state levels. A nine-week specialized training program was initiated in Mexicali, Baja California, for 142 participants, including 26 judges, 90 prosecutors, and 26 public defenders. The program provides both theoretical and practical knowledge of the new criminal justice system to ensure effective implementation of the reforms. Alternative justice training was conducted in Chihuahua, Baja California, Oaxaca, and Morelos, presenting the theoretical and practical application of basic elements of alternative justice practices in four to eight modules. The training focused on conflict, mediation, conciliation, and restorative justice. MSD/Mexico is working to professionalize mediators in Mexico by supporting their attendance at the National Conference on Mediation held in Jalisco, Guadalajara in September 2009. The conference addressed the use of mediation as an alternative case resolution practice and best practices in mediation. In addition to training, MSD/Mexico provided technical assistance to the State of Chihuahua for the training of prosecutors, judges, public defenders, and municipal police on conducting pre-trial court proceedings. The assistance included developing a manual for conducting pre-trial court proceedings and providing training on the manual. A shadowing and evaluation training program was completed in the State of Zacatecas to support implementation of criminal justice reforms in the state. Prosecutors, judges, public defenders, police investigators, and pre-trial proceeding judges were monitored and evaluated in ongoing criminal trial proceedings to ensure adherence to high standards of jurisprudence. The project also focuses on improving access to justice for marginalized populations, including indigenous populations. MSD/Mexico is working to strengthen the coordination between police and prosecutors, professionalize the public defense and Attorney General's office, and support case resolution alternatives. The project is also supported by the Merida Initiative, which provides funding for modernized state and federal justice systems and strengthening justice institutions to combat organized crime and support human rights through victim protection and restitution.