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MEMORANDUM

Section 1: Introduction

Summary of Project

My final report is about Mexico’s war on drugs, specifically about explaining how the

reformation of Mexico’s justice system will help bring the country’s war on drugs, corruption,

and violence to an end. My research aimed to examine how disorganized and ineffective the

police department and judicial system are, discuss who are the victims of this war on drugs and

how to help them, and discover who the perpetrators are in this system and how to punish them.

Most importantly I wanted to research and explain how this reformation would help Mexico win

this battle over drugs. I found that the police and courts are riddled with corruption and are

cooperating with each other, keeping criminals and lousy police on the streets. To continue,

Mexican citizens are the victims of the government's inaction. Many citizens express a high level

of distrust and lack of faith in the justice system. The perpetrators are obvious, the numerous

cartels, judges, and police are the ones exploiting the system and profiting the most. I believe

that an increase and strengthening of prosecutors and judges are monumental for Mexico’s

future. This reform ensures that all people are being prosecuted, investigated and punished for

crimes in a fair trial. Also, a reform of police is necessary as most of the country’s corrupt

officials work in this sector. Cracking down on corrupt officers and teaching better policing

tactics will hopefully reduce malpractice and promote accountability within the force. This

reform will also rebuild the lack of trust in citizens and reduce crime. This paper is thus for those

who align themselves with humanitarian values and have a strong sense of justice. It is also for

those who may be interested specifically in the way that drug trafficking fosters more issues into

a country.

Accomplishments

Looking back at my research proposal schedule, I am in the ending stages of my

schedule. I have completed my research proposal, refined my multiple questions into a singular

research question, and found many sources and information. I have also completed the research

poster and presented my project to the class. I have completed a majority of the report and

annotated bibliography and am mostly in the final editing stage.

Section 2: Completed Research

Research Methods and New Questions

For research methods, I used online databases and websites pertaining to my topic, news

media outlets to find recent events, and searched for statistical information concerning Mexico

and it’s war on drugs. I completed outside research on other countries' working systems to get a

better idea on what to research and incorporate for the solution to Mexico’s own issue. I had also

read through several pages of each source found in search of information that could be useful for

the report or directly referenced. This information of other countries made me question the many

other sectors Mexico would need to improve on to recover from its infamous war on drugs. For

example, the corruption within political parties, relations with America, and relations with other

Latin American countries. It also made me curious on the idea of decriminalization and how

some countries are making drugs legal in an attempt to combat the effects of drug trafficking and

addiction.

Statistics

[Link]
According to the graph, the killings in Mexico are almost double that of all civilian deaths in
both Afghanistan and Iraq since 2007.

[Link]
42c-a395-11e2-9c03-6952ff305f35_story.html

“31 percent of the population believes it would be punished after committing a crime”
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[Link]

“Officers lack adequate training and support, receive dismal salaries, and must work long hours
because of understaffing -- all of which hampers their ability to fulfill their duties. At worst,
these difficulties make officers highly susceptible to corruption and infiltration from organized
crime groups.”

Section 3: Remaining Research

This project is way beyond schedule. Initially I had some issues pertaining to narrowing

my topic. I knew that I wanted to write about Mexico and its war on drugs but I wasn’t very sure

which direction to take it. My focus has been revised and modified a few times, as some areas I

initially wanted to focus on had less information covering them, and other times my focus was

too broad and I was flooded with information. I plan to submit the research paper with the

annotated bibliography on December 5th. The report is essentially done, however I am still

finalizing the project, making small edits and including better and more relevant citations as I

review more information.

Section 4: Conclusion

To conclude, essentially I have completed the entire project for the semester. There isn't

much to do besides submit the final paper due to how near to the end of the semester I am in.

Section 5: Reference

Asmann, Parker. “What's Standing in the Way of Police Reform in Mexico?” InSight Crime, 16
Apr. 2021, [Link]/news/analysis/police-reform-mexico/.

Beittel, June S. Mexico: Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Organizations. CRS, 28 July
2020, [Link]/crs/row/[Link].

Botello, Nelson Arteaga. “Everything in This Job Is Money.” NJIT Library EZ-Proxy Logon
Page,
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[Link]/[Link]?direct=true&db=aph&AN=372594
1&site=ehost-live.

Breslow, Jason M. “The Staggering Death Toll of Mexico's Drug War.” PBS, Public
Broadcasting Service,
[Link]/wgbh/frontline/article/the-staggering-death-toll-of-mexicos-drug-war/.

Guzman, Alfredo Torres. “Global Market Research and Public Opinion Specialist - Principales
Problemas De América Latina.” IPSOS, [Link]/en.

Jamarillo, Juan Camilo. “Entire Police Forces Continue to Be Arrested in Mexico.” InSight
Crime, 21 Aug. 2019,
[Link]/news/brief/entire-police-forces-continue-arrested-mexico/.

Rios, Viridiana. “How to Win the Mexican Drug War.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 12
Apr. 2013,
[Link]/opinions/how-to-win-the-mexican-drug-war/2013/04/12/0c44
342c-a395-11e2-9c03-6952ff305f35_story.html.

Steinberg, Nik. Neither Rights Nor Security.

Tabory, Sam. “Mexico Courts Can't Agree on 'El Menchito' Case.” InSight Crime, 2 July 2015,
[Link]/news/brief/mexico-courts-jalisco-cartel-arrest-el-menchito/.

Wola. “Police Reform and Security Strategies in Mexico.” WOLA, 14 May 2021,
[Link]/2021/05/whdpc-police-reform-and-security-strategies-in-mexico/.