It's Wednesday, Here's Chabat

Jorge Chabat makes three related points about Mexico's security in today's column:

1. Impunity is the biggest barrier to Mexico improving its security. When only 1 or 2 percent of crimes result in convictions, people will do pretty much anything their conscience will allow. And with so many other criminals running around, the conscience backslides. 

2. Whatever the legislative or bureaucratic barriers to achieving a greater degree of justice, police corruption is the single most important. (I made the same point about judicial reform several months ago here.)

3. The level of control over the police is demonstrably inadequate. Chabat: 

A few years ago there existed a commercial that asked: "It's 11 at night, do you know where our children are?" That same question should be put to the authorities: Do you know where your police are? It's obvious that most do not. 

Thus, stricter control mechanisms are urgent. You could think, for example, of satellite positioning systems for patrol cars and even for the police themselves. You could think systematic controls of confidence and a oversight of bank accounts and assets of police.

Other control measures that should be implemented across the nation: random drug and polygraph testing, and internal affairs departments in every city. I read today that Mérida Initiative money will start arriving in September. Supporting reforms like these would provide Mexico (and consequently the United States) a lot more than a few helicopters will.