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February 19, 2019  |  By Douglas Keillor In News

Detention as a Last Resort for Teens in Guerrero

“Now we have concrete measures that are more transparent,” said Elizabeth, the juvenile detention center psychologist in Guerrero state. Juvenile Justice Advocates International (JJAI) finished our first training on implementing our Pre-Trial Detention Risk Assessment Instrument in Guerrero last November, making it the first state to fully implement the National Risk Assessment Model adopted last year.

With the passing of the National Law for an Integral Justice System for Adolescents in 2016, Mexican States seek to reduce the use of detention, including requiring a pre-trial detention risk assessment. JJAI designed the tool as a set of questionnaires that analyze teens’ risk of not appearing at a hearing. More specifically, the tool not only assesses the risk of not appearing at a hearing, it also determines the risk to the victim of the crime committed by the teen and the risk of obstruction. Why is the implementation of a Risk Assessment a win for JJAI and Guerrero? It offers judges a clear guideline to determine whether to sentence a teen to pre-trial detention or pre-trial release and minimizes the risk that they will hand down arbitrary or discriminatory decisions. It also means that teens in conflict with the law are offered an alternative to detention and a chance at reintegration into society no matter their background.

Elizabeth, a psychologist in the city of Chilpancingo, is already seeing firsthand the benefits of the Risk Assessment. She lauded the tool’s transparency and recounted how she used it to advocate for a teen awaiting his trial. He has yet to receive his high school diploma, and Elizabeth used the Risk Assessment to show that her client wasn’t a flight risk because he was dedicated to finishing his education. The judge handed down a sentence of pre-trial release because, thanks to the Risk Assessment, he was able to take into account that it was in the teen’s best interest to devote time to his academic endeavors.

For the Risk Assessment to be successful, it is crucial that the State gets behind the tool and advocates for its use. Azucena Piñeda Guillermo, Judge for Control and Specialized Prosecution for Juvenile Justice in Guerrero, mentioned the importance of the creation of an Administrative Authority that will support the 2016 law and encourage the use of the Risk Assessment tool. Additionally, Elizabeth emphasized the importance that the detention center will made participation in the necessary assessment training mandatory, with key staff having finished the training earlier this month. She mentioned that the commitment to completing the training was crucial for preparing key staff to understand and use the Risk Assessment correctly and effectively. Now that it has officially been implemented, JJAI looks forward to monitoring any developments and staying informed of how the State addresses and overcomes any roadblocks that may be a hindrance to its execution.

Though there are challenges, Azucena and Elizabeth are both optimistic about the systemic changes that the Risk Assessment will bring about in Guerrero. They both regard it as a substantial and indispensable tool for assessing procedural risks. Equally as important, for teens and their families, it will offer hope during a trying time. JJAI looks forward to hearing more success stories similar to that of the teen Elizabeth assisted as we continue to push for reforms within the juvenile justice system.

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Guerrero

Los adolescentes en el sistema de justicia en Guerrero requieren de gran apoyo, servicios y protección del crimen organizado, por lo que nuestro trabajo se realiza bajo un nivel considerable de inseguridad pública. Somos la única A.C. trabajando para ayudar al gobierno para que los adolescentes tengan una verdadera segunda oportunidad.

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CDMX

Vista como líder nacional en las prácticas del sistema de justicia, la Ciudad de México tiene más adolescentes en detención que cualquier otra jurisdicción. Sin embargo, también ha desarrollado una unidad de seguimiento en libertad con numerosas alianzas con organizaciones. Nuestros proyectos fortalecerán esta área crítica.

JJI está trabajando en la Ciudad de México desde dos vertientes. En Alternativas a la Detención con un monitoreo que comenzó en 2019, pero por causas sanitarias y la pandemia por COVID, se retomó dos años después con un equipo de especialistas el cual ya está preparándose para continuar la actividad. En Movilizando voluntarios, se continúa con los esfuerzos para reunir a más adolescentes con sus familias, gracias al apoyo: “Reunificación familiar”. Así como también se han realizado entrega de enseres en los 6 centros.

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Durango

A pesar de tener un número menor de adolescentes en el sistema de justicia, Durango es una jurisdicción que busca la mejora continua. Durango es el primer estado donde tanto el poder judicial como el ejecutivo han firmado convenios de colaboración para la implementación de nuestros proyectos de Alternativas a la Detención.

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Chihuahua

Chihuahua es nuestro sitio piloto y un estado considerado líder en la reforma penal en México. Nuestros proyectos comenzaron en el 2016. Desde entonces, los tiempos en detención preventiva han disminuido, los adolescentes son supervisados con mayor eficiencia en sus comunidades y se ha mejorado la calidad de vida de aquellos adolescentes que siguen privados de su libertad.

En Chihuahua trabajamos con varios proyectos, como son el monitoreo que se trabaja en conjunto con la autoridad, y con los adolescentes y sus familias trabajamos en talleres, mesas de trabajo, eventos lúdicos, acompañamiento post penal, reubicaciones y traslados de familiares para audiencias y visitas, así como donaciones de enseres, ropa y material deportivo.

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Chiapas

Ante la apertura de los operadores del sistema de justicia para adolescentes del estado de Chiapas, a partir del mes de diciembre del año 2020 se tuvo acercamiento con los operadores que encabezan el Sistema de Justicia Penal para Adolescentes en el Estado de Chiapas, con el fin de coadyuvar en dicho sistema y en pro de todas las personas adolescentes Chiapanecos en conflicto con la ley. Tanto que el día 26 de abril del 2021, JJI realizó la presentación de proyectos ante los operadores del sistema penal para adolescentes en la Sala de Presidentes del Poder Judicial del Estado de Chiapas teniendo una respuesta de interés de los presentes.


En el tenor del desarrollo de la relación institucional JJI continuó aportando varias donaciones a los Centros de Internamiento Especializados para Adolescentes ubicados en los Municipios de Berriozábal ”Villa Crisol” y Mazatán “Zona Costa” del Estado de Chiapas, ha entregado Kit de enseres, insumos para la prevención del Virus SARS-CoV-2, canastas básicas conformados por alimentos y artículos de limpieza e higiene personal.

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Chihuahua

A national leader in criminal procedural reforms, our pilot project in Chihuahua started in 2016. Since that time the rates and duration of pretrial detention have declined, youth are being successfully supervised in their communities and new programs in the detention center have improved daily life for those children still deprived of liberty.

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Guerrero

Working under the shadow of significant public insecurity, the youth in Guerrero’s justice system are in dire need of support, services and protection from organized crime. We are one of the only nonprofits working to help the government and youth in detention get a second chance.

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CDMX

Looked to as the national leader in youth justice practices, Mexico City has more youth in detention than any other jurisdiction but has also developed a robust probation office and numerous alliances with nonprofits. Our projects will further fortify this critical work.

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Durango

Despite being a smaller jurisdiction, Durango is constantly looking to improve. Durango is the first state where both the Executive Branch and Judicial Branch have signed Memorandum of Understanding to launch the Alternatives to Detention initiatives.

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Chiapas

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