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Monday, June 7, 2021

Lawmaker Wants to End Censor Bars in Photos of Criminal Suspects

"Morogris" for Borderland Beat

Two suspects with censor bars and no surnames.

A National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party lawmaker has called to end the use of censor bars in photos of criminal suspects, a practice intended to obscure their faces under the idea that it provides presumption of innocence.

Another measure designed to protect suspects is the use of the letter "N" in place of the suspect's surname.

Guerrero deputy Coyolxauhqui Soria Morales proposed an amendment to the criminal procedure code prohibiting photos of suspects from being distorted before they are released to the media.

Although Mexican law does not explicitly require the media to use censor bars, but oftentimes the media receives these pictures with the censor bars already in place.

Morales argues that anonymizing suspects is tantamount to putting their rights above those of the victims.

“Higher priority has been given to the alleged perpetrator, putting the victim second … negating the legal equality of both parties and overprotecting the accused …” she said. Morales added that obscuring the identity of the accused is a barrier to securing a prosecution. “… the face of the detained defendants must be revealed to provide legal certainty and viability, in order to carry out physical identification by the victims,” she said.

The deputy asserted that the principal of presumption of innocence does not afford suspects anonymity.

“The presumption of innocence is not affected by the fact that their faces are covered or distorted, or that a bar is placed on their eyes. Their integrity is not protected by that measure, but with respect for their human rights as criminal suspects,” she said.

The proposed modification to Article 113 of the National Code of Criminal Procedures reads:

“When the alleged perpetrators are arrested, at the point they are presented to the media, it is forbidden to cover the face or distort the image or put a bar over the eyes of the accused, with the exception of minors.”

Borderland Beat Analysis
Prior to the full adoption of Mexico's New Criminal Justice System (Nuevo Sistema de Justicia Penal, NJSP) in 2016, blurring suspects' faces in mug shots and protecting their names was not practiced by both authorities and the media.

But the NJSP intended to provide greater protection to the accused and help preserve presumption of innocence. Critics say that this measure little to no effect in preserving presumption of innocence, and that it only benefits criminals who are likely to re-offend.

If a suspect is found guilty and convicted, one can file a petition to the Mexican government to release the suspect's full name and uncensored picture.

Blurring suspects' faces is not generally practiced when a suspect has a bounty.

Sources: Infobae; MND; Borderland Beat Analysis

11 comments:

  1. Stupid laws of Mexico, I remember reading articles, as too when a few are convicted (found guilty), and they still end covering eyes and last names.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You would think that with the recent advancements, widespread corruption across the country, and overall higher levels of effectiveness today, that Mexico would jump on facial recognition in a heartbeat..

    I wish the UN would do their job, and start applying the pressure on the “gov” of MX… For not just enabling perverse corruption and violence, but for blatantly taking part in the systematic genocide of innocent citizens.

    🦉

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 3:28 I regret to inform you that due to unforeseen events transpiring in Mexico. Your thinking is greatfull.
      Mexican government mini guns and helicopters to rid of criminals,is available but they will not use it.
      Military and DEA are able and ready to help but Mexico does not want it, as a matter of fact Obrador wants less DEA involved in Mexico. In other words it's open season for all criminals in Mexico. Yes all the while the government looks the other way.

      Delete
  3. Finally some damn common sense

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Edgar Alvarado welcome back, hope your doing fine.

      Delete
  4. Finally some damn common sense

    ReplyDelete
  5. Edgar Alvarado where that enpt lawmaker, that wanted citizens to have 38s revolver in thier homes. The house will not pass this one neither, criminals have more freedom than the citizens.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mencho is my dad, and I hate it that he wouldn't let me join his cartel. Well really my family is part of the CU lacras and that's why I like and say things that aren't Tru and my go to line is "trust me"
    Just like I swore to you guys M2 is trapped in Aguililla ND they couldn't win there it's showing now that he is in fact not trapped and CJNG pretty much took control of that plaza, but I'm an idiot and I will still say what I want because I'm biased and my family are lacras
    CJNG are all talk, they get slapped In Michoacan, all the govt reports all the news outlets all the videos of advancing are super fake, you know how I know? I'm a homie and I have super powers that tell me because my nipples get hard and that is a sign of lies.
    My nipples get hard everytime they say CJNG is advancing in Mich..
    Lastly, Mencho is not friends with Cuini anymore, he only got power from marrying Rosalindal because marriage has some superpower, even though Jessica Johanna and Menchito were already young kids before they got married Mencho wasn't liked until the marriage and that's 100% facts because my asshole puckers when I know I'm right.
    I am the biggest moron online and I am the self proclaimed narco idiot who knows absolutely Nothing and none of you guys will take my super nipples and magical asshole away from me unless your name is Elencho, then of course you can have them

    ATTE SECRET MANAGEMENT

    OPERATION FUNDILLOS UNIDOS
    FUERZAS ESPECIALES GRUPO JOTOS
    Ala order Del Señor RompeCulos


    ReplyDelete
  7. Emma’s sentencing;
    https://www.yahoo.com/news/wife-convicted-mexican-drug-kingpin-215044831.html

    “Her (Emma) plea agreement will not require her to cooperate with U.S. authorities or provide information about her husband's allies, business partners or relatives, the Times reports.“

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This article is about face covering not Emma.

      Delete

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