Introduction
The topic of the criminal justice (CJS) system is essential in the contemporary world, especially in schools, as it equips learners with valuable information and knowledge. Firstly, the lessons gained from criminology classes help students understand their countries and how they are administered.
Secondly, the safety of the people begins with awareness of topics related to the criminal justice system. Issues like prison expansion and the review of correctional departments start with understanding the subject. According to Gonzales (2019), the people’s safety lies in the government’s ability to execute power and justice; trustworthy governments dispense laws to everyone equally, depending on the merits of behaviors. For instance, murderers, rapists, and other criminals rot in jail to serve as an example to other perpetrators.
Thirdly, the topic is significant since it expands learners’ knowledge of policing and law enforcement. Matters such as arrest procedures and detention are addressed in the criminal justice system, allowing students to recognize the practice of law. The review of CJS helps learners understand their governments, historical events, and the approaches institutions use to correct lawbreakers.
Overview of Mexico
Government
Mexico is a country in North America with an estimated population of 129 million. The county is composed of thirty-one states ruled by a single constitution. The government is an essential pillar of citizens because it comprises three branches that prioritize and protect citizens’ needs. The country’s administration matters to the people because it influences development and unity among them.
Mexico borders the United States of America to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the southeast, with Guatemala and Belize to the south. Mexico City is the capital of the country, and it enjoys massive financial stability and peace, which keeps the country competitive on the world stage. Mexico has sixty-eight indigenous languages, showcasing the diversity of the people in embracing different cultures. However, Spanish is the de facto language that citizens use to associate with each other.
Area and Population
Mexico has a vast population of over 129 million individuals, as recorded by the Mexican National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) in 2023. The country spans a vast area, estimated to be approximately 1,972,550 square kilometers, encompassing all districts (GarcĂa-Ortiz et al., 2021). The country’s primary part comprises the mainland with a density of 61 square kilometers (GarcĂa-Ortiz et al., 2021). Gonzales (2019) highlights that 1.58% of the land is water, meaning there are fewer islands in the country.
Mexico’s economic demographics are attractive to the government and citizens. The country has a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of $10,950, a nominal GDP of $1.42 trillion, and a purchasing power parity (PPP) of $2.92 trillion (Buira et al., 2021). The financial denotations rank Mexico as one of the world’s largest economies.
For instance, the country is the 15th largest economy based on its nominal gross domestic product value. Additionally, Mexico ranks eighty-sixth in terms of its influence, boasting a high Human Development Index. As a developed country, the region has sufficient resources to support criminal justice systems. The country’s stability enables the government to develop effective plans for reviewing, revising, and enhancing its current court systems and policing departments.
Government Structure
Mexico is a federal state with a federal government, where the Constitution holds supreme powers of governance. The President and other elected government officials follow the rules enshrined in the Constitution to practice law. In other words, the Constitution divides power among three branches of the government and gives the people the oversight role of monitoring how the country is run.
Power is divided among the government’s judiciary, legislature, and executive branches. The executive branch is headed by the President, who also acts as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and head of state. The bicameral legislature in the country is composed of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
The Congress of the Union is the lower House of the bicameral parliament. Mexico has an independent judiciary headed by a Chief Justice and ten associate justices. The Mexican Supreme Court is divided into Chambers identified as the Salas, each comprising five justices.
History
The history of Mexico helps students understand the country’s story from pre-colonization. Firstly, the country gained independence from Spain in 1821, after which it adopted its own government structure. Secondly, the country’s first administration is associated with the Mexican Empire. The constitutional monarchy gradually transitioned into a democracy, allowing the people to vote for leaders of their choice to represent them. According to Gonzales (2019), Mexico was the first country to adopt the Spanish Empire, which escalated into a monarchy.
Thirdly, the state’s first population existed more than 13000 years ago, as recorded in the world history books. Mexicans were initially known as the people of Mesoamerica based on the diverse civilization witnessed during their journey to independence.
Correctional System Dynamics in Mexico
The dynamic of criminal justice systems simplifies mapping crime-prone regions in every country. Knowledge of the characteristics of courts and policing procedures in the arrest of suspects helps individuals understand the dynamics of crime. For instance, Mexican CJS facilities consist of correctional and federal institutions. Both agencies work closely together to reduce crime rates and improve security nationwide.
The federal government has constructed 251 state prisons to cater to the people’s needs. Private agencies have developed a model to construct over 51 correctional facilities, aiming to address the overcrowding problem in the country’s prisons. Drug-related crimes are the highest cases reported in Mexico.
Comparison of Correctional Facilities in Mexico and the US
American and Mexican prisons vary depending on the isolated elements of comparison. However, jails in America are more caring than those in Mexico because they provide all the amenities lacking in Mexico, for example, specialized prisons in America separate pregnant women from the crowded populations. Food, security, health, and school systems are also present in all American jails as opposed to those in Mexico. The minimum basic needs provided in Mexican prisons are limited in America because the government cares for the well-being of inmates.
Recommendations
The stereotyping of people from low-income families and other minority groups in the Mexican criminal justice system puts innocent people in jail. However, changing the current CJS can help the country run healthy and better institutions. Firstly, Karthaus et al. (2019) suggest that the government should consider human rights in passing sentences and locking prisoners behind bars. Life imprisonment and long-term jail punishments should be revised to allow perpetrators to change and achieve their life goals.
Secondly, the health of inmates should be a priority for the criminal justice system. Public health experts should monitor the state of such prisons to consider the health of inmates. The cost of imprisonment should be reduced to enable low-income families to leave the management role and provide for their basic needs (Karthaus et al., 2019). Social class identity should be removed from the CJS to create equal opportunities for every prisoner to access social amenities. These issues should be addressed in future research.
Conclusion
Researching the criminal justice system in Mexico is complicated due to the challenges it poses to researchers. Due to language barriers, finding quantitative and qualitative information about prison life in Mexico is challenging. There are 68 indigenous languages spoken in the country. As a result, finding resourceful individuals with knowledge of all languages can be complicated.
In addition, financial constraints affect researchers in the region because travel expenses and per diem are necessary for data collectors. The government’s tight rules regarding human rights activism protect prison wardens and government officials. Therefore, obtaining accurate information is challenging due to communication restrictions.
References
Buira, D., Tovilla, J., Farbes, J., Jones, R., Haley, B., & Gastelum, D. (2021). A whole-economy Deep Decarbonization Pathway for Mexico. Energy Strategy Reviews, 33(4), 100â578. Web.
GarcĂa-Ortiz, H., Barajas-Olmos, F., Contreras-Cubas, C., Cid-Soto, M. Ă., CĂłrdova, E. J., Centeno-Cruz, F., Mendoza-Caamal, E., CicerĂłn-Arellano, I., Flores-Huacuja, M., Baca, P., Bolnick, D. A., Snow, M., Flores-MartĂnez, S. E., Ortiz-Lopez, R., Reynolds, A. W., Blanchet, A., Morales-MarĂn, M., VelĂĄzquez-Cruz, R., Kostic, A. D.,Orozco, L. (2021). The genomic landscape of Mexican Indigenous populations brings insights into the people of the Americas. Nature Communications, 12(1), 123â256. Web.
Getty Images. (n.d.). Mexican Police Pictures, Images and Stock Photos. iStock. Web.
Gonzales, M. G. (2019). Mexicanos: A history of Mexicans in the United States. Indiana University Press.
Karthaus, R., Block, L., & Hu, A. (2019). Redesigning prison: The architecture and ethics of rehabilitation. The Journal of Architecture, 24(2), 193â222. Web.