Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed serious worries about Mexico’s handling of homicide investigations in a new report released Wednesday. HRW’s findings indicate that Mexican officials consistently overlook crucial investigative procedures, leading to an overwhelming number of homicide cases that remain unsolved.

The HRW report shows that procedural mistakes are widespread, crime scenes are frequently unpreserved, forensic evidence is mishandled or wholly overlooked, and investigations often depend heavily on confessions, which can be coerced. Investigators may also lack the necessary resources and training to effectively handle complex homicide cases, limiting their ability to conduct thorough inquiries. Additional reports highlight challenges in the law enforcement and judicial processes in Mexico, detailing how threats and intimidation by criminal groups complicate the enforcement of law and the pursuit of justice.

Recently, the mayor of a city in Mexico’s Guerrero state was assassinated in October, and a security official was arrested for the murder a month later. The killing followed a wave of violence against political candidates that occurred close to the country’s June elections.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is urging the Mexican government to reform the criminal justice system. Key recommendations included improving forensic capabilities, protecting crime scenes and evidence integrity, and enhancing law enforcement resources.