In a functioning democracy, the police are expected to operate within the limits of their legally defined power, rely on public goodwill and cooperation to carry out their duties, and serve as government agents of justice. In Mexico, however, high levels of corruption and abuse within the police forces have precipitated a lack of confidence in their ability to carry out their work legally and effectively. Founded one year ago, NED grantees the Democracia, Derechos Humanos y Seguridad (DDHS) and Instituto para la Seguridad y la Democracia (INSyDE) are both working to increase transparency and accountability in Mexico’s police forces. DDHS is working to encourage citizen participation in the police reform process, while INSyDE is working to create an instrument to measure police accountability and foster the rule of law.
In 2004, DDHS carried out nine research studies on the origins of corruption in the federal and Mexico City police forces. After reviewing over two decades’ worth of data and interviewing various officials related to police issues, DDHS presented the results of its research to the Mexican media, academics, human rights NGOs, and political parties and held a series of seminars on police reform. Their research exposed an absence of both external and internal oversight of police subordinates and a need to encourage the public to take a prominent role in the police reform process. In response to their findings, in the coming year DDHS will engage citizens through public forums, print and audio media, and pilot workshops between neighborhood associations and the local police in Mexico City.
INSyDE conducted extensive research on the levels of corruption and types of abuse within the police forces, and also examined what if any measures existed to deter misconduct. After completing their initial research, INSyDE concluded that there were no accountability mechanisms within the police forces. Therefore, in 2005 INSyDE will use Endowment funding to create a police accountability manual. The manual will suggest structural changes for the institutional oversight and various mechanisms for enforcement to curb corruption and abuse practices in Mexico’s police forces.
The involvement of civil society in police reform is a new endeavor and further independent, comprehensive research is essential. Because of their in depth research and innovative projects, Democracia, Derechos Humanos y Seguridad and Instituto para la Seguridad y la Democracia have developed a reputation as serious, independent actors in the police reform process and are poised to play key roles in Mexico’s police reform.
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