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May 1, 2020  |  By Marisol Marín In News

Transparency; one of the ways to identify the strengths of the adolescent justice system

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“Information can save lives,” was the phrase used by.  the founding member and director of Documenta A.C., María Sirvent,  regarding transparency by the authorities in charge of the adolescent justice system in Mexico, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During our webinar titled : “COVID-19: Identifying the strengths of the adolescent justice system”, Sirvent expressed that an intelligent action on the part of the authorities is through an attitude that shares the information of the internment centers in regards to contagions or isolations caused by positive cases of COVID-19.

In the event we also had the participation of the career official of the Ministry of Justice in Spain with training in criminal law and adviser of justice for children in Latin America by Terre des hommes, Víctor Herrero. The panelist commented that when the authorities hide data regarding the state of health of young people in detention centers, they violate their fundamental rights.

This is because by hiding this type of information from adolescents, they generate great anguish for not knowing what is happening around them, as well as stress and fear that can result in violent behaviors that lead to a problem added to those which they already face.

He affirmed that if the centers decide to take a preventive measure against the pandemic, such as isolation, this decision must be clearly communicated to the inmates, because what they need at the moment is reliable information.

“Young people have the right to life and we have to take care of it. A very important part of it is their health. That is why we must explain what is happening, so that they do not feel that extra care is a punishment within another punishment. They have to be told what is happening so that they do not resent it, “he added.

Our founder and executive director, Douglas Keillor, said that the detention centers “are not in a bubble”, but are part of a community and the data on this is not being shared, which means ignoring a large part of the COVID-19 chain.

“For the benefit of transparent protocols, we must consider that we have to know what really happens within the centers, in order to know how society can collaborate. We need to share the good practices of the country, but for this we need data that allows us to unite efforts and be able to meet the needs at their core, “he said.

For her part, our National Project Director, Sarahi García shared the collective effort between JJAI, Documenta, Fair Trials and the Northwestern Law School to collect information in Mexico and other Latin American countries and save lives through information.. 

This activity is the sixth in a series that we will be carrying out with experts in the area. For more information you can follow us on our social networks, or write to us at info@jjadvocates.org

It should be noted that the three surveys carried out by the aforementioned collective effort are: 

  • The questionnaire addressed to family and / or companions of adolescents in detention: https://tinyurl.com/ydd5sr9y 
  • The questionnaire addressed to Holders of detention centers: http://tiny.cc/8vxynz  
  • And the questionnaire addressed to operating authorities of the Comprehensive Justice System for Adolescents (judges, magistrates and public defenders specialized in justice for adolescents): http://tiny.cc/d0xynz
#coronavirus anxiety authorities Conditions coronavirus covid-19 covid19 depression epidemic health rights mexico responsibility rights
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Webinar on COVID-19, Humanitaria Crisis for Youth in Detention in Latin America – Spanish only:

https://youtu.be/3MOSFq_hE1M

March 26th Webinar on COVID-19 and Challenges to the Juvenile Justice System in Mexico – Spanish only:

https://youtu.be/52zianCu_3A

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Guerrero

Después de años de lucha y problemas de inseguridad, decidimos en 2022 cerrar nuestro proyecto en Guerrero. Pudimos implementar nuestro instrumento de evaluación previa al juicio para garantizar que los jóvenes de bajo riesgo permanezcan en sus comunidades. Y brindamos apoyo a más de 220 jóvenes, como parte de nuestro proyecto de Movilizando Voluntarios.

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Chiapas

Por invitación del Poder Judicial del Estado de Chiapas, realizamos un estudio para evaluar la viabilidad de implementar nuestros proyectos en la región. En 2022, nuestro equipo presentó los resultados y recomendaciones. El gobierno estatal ahora está decidiendo cómo quieren colaborar con nosotros en el futuro.

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Guerrero

After years of struggle and security issues, we decided in 2022 to close our project in Guerrero. We were able to implement our pretrial screening instrument to ensure low-risk youth stay in their communities. And we provided support to over 220 youths, as part of our Mobilize and Empower project.

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Chiapas

In the state of Chiapas, at the invitation of the state judiciary, we conducted a study to assess the viability of implementing our projects. In 2022, our team presented the results and recommendations. The state government is now deciding how they want to collaborate with us in the future.

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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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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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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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