Detention Without Charge: The Use of Arraigo for Criminal Investigations in Mexico
By Janice Deaton and Octavio Rodríguez Ferreira
This is one of a series of special reports that have been published on a semi-annual basis by Justice in Mexico since 2010, each of which examines issues related to crime and violence, judicial sector reform, and human rights in Mexico. This special report provides a detailed assessment of the use of arraigo as a prosecutorial mechanism in Mexico, as national and international organizations have increasingly questioned the practice. Evidence collected for this report suggests that detention without charge is a poor substitute for due process protections that help to ensure the integrity and legitimacy of police and prosecutorial investigations. This report was authored by Janice Deaton and Octavio Rodríguez Ferreira. The report was formally released on January 12, 2015 and was made possible by the generous support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. This report does not represent the views or opinions of the University of San Diego or the sponsoring and supporting organizations.
San Diego: Justice In Mexico, University of San Diego, 2015. 48p.