In 2016, the World Justice Project (WJP) collaborated with Mexico’s National Institute of Geography and Statistics (INEGI) to develop the National Survey on Prison Inmates (ENPOL). Out now, Failed Justice: Prevalence of Torture in Mexico's Criminal Justice System analyzes quantitative evidence of the cases of thousands of Mexican persons that are victims of torture or ill-treatment in Mexico while being accused and processed in the Mexican criminal justice (state and federal) systems. The new WJP report offers systematized qualitative evidence from in-depth interviews with procedural criminal justice stakeholders. The objective of this analysis is to illustrate, through quantitative data, the extent of the prevalence of torture or ill-treatment throughout different stages in the process of arrest or detention, criminal investigation, accusation, and life in prison. Qualitative research additionally provides analytical data to question the hypotheses of this research.

The data offer compelling evidence that this sort of state violence is carried out by criminal justice operators mostly because they believe it is a means to obtain valid probatory evidence. Furthermore, to a lesser extent, torture is also seen as a means of social control or punishment in the penitentiary system. 

79% of people were tortured or ill-treated

The starting point of the WJP team for this analysis is statistical evidence. The sample analyzed corresponds to the cases of 51,658 prison inmates that were arrested from 2006-2016, interviewed by INEGI. This sample is representative of a population of 187,784 individuals who were deprived of their freedom. The survey contains data concerning people whose criminal prosecution resulted in pretrial detention or a final conviction punishable by imprisonment. The ENPOL examines the other side of the issue by analyzing who is in prison in Mexico and the course of action that led to their incarceration. The survey is based on a random sample of individuals from different federal states and prisons.

Read the full report in English or Spanish at worldjusticeproject.mx.

title bar

Read More

title bar
A finger pushing back against blocks that say "autocracy" so that they say "democracy"

The American Bar Association’s International Law Section recently convened a panel to discuss the global impact of U.S. Democracy under fire as part of its annual “Rule of Law Webathon.” World Justice Project Executive Director Elizabeth Andersen joined the Hon. Andre M. Davis, U.S. Circuit Judge (ret.), U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Cass R. Sunstein, professor at Harvard Law School, and Scott Carlson, associate executive director of global programs for the American Bar Association in a robust discussion about how lawyers can help prevent further backsliding of democracy.  The panel was moderated by the Hon. Delissa A. Ridgway of the U.S. Court of International Trade. 

Read More
An illustration of people interacting with the justice system

WJP Executive Director Elizabeth Andersen recently addressed the American Bar Association’s “Putting People first: People-Centered Justice at Home and Abroad” conference in Washington DC. Andersen used her remarks to define the unmet justice needs experienced by billions around the world and explain how people-centered justice can bridge the justice gap. 

Read More
Gente sale a la calle para protestar en Guayaquil, Ecuador en 2015. Crédito de la foto Michael Müller/iStock

WASHINGTON, 17 de mayo de 2023 - La mayoría de la población de América Latina y el Caribe consideran que su gobierno utiliza la desinformación para moldear la opinión pública a su favor.  Este es sólo un indicio del autoritarismo y de la desconfianza generalizada en los gobiernos de la región, según se desprende de 26 nuevos reportes nacionales sobre el Estado de Derecho publicados hoy por el World Justice Project (WJP).  "Estos reportes representan las voces de las personas en toda América Latina y el Caribe y en cómo perciben y experimentan el Estado de Derecho", dijo Elizabeth Andersen, Directora Ejecutiva del WJP.  "Estamos más contentos que nunca de compartir más datos de nuestras encuestas para ayudar a las diversas partes interesadas a identificar las debilidades del Estado de derecho y desarrollar políticas para hacerles frente." 

Read More
People marching in protest in central streets of Córdoba, Argentina, 2014. Credit: Andres Ruffo/iStock

WASHINGTON May 17, 2023 – The majority of people in Latin America and the Caribbean believe their government is using misinformation to shape public opinion in their favor.  That’s just one indication of authoritarianism and widespread mistrust of government in the region, as captured in 26 new Rule of Law country reports released today by the World Justice Project (WJP).   “These reports represent the voices of the people across Latin America and the Caribbean and how they perceive and experience the rule of law,” said WJP Executive Director Elizabeth Andersen.  “We are excited to share more of our survey data than ever before, to help diverse stakeholders pinpoint rule of law weaknesses and develop policies to address them.” 

Read More