Victims of Crime
Initial Decisions
One of the most immediate decisions is whether to seek justice through the Mexican judicial system, a system that differs in many ways from that in the U.S. The American Citizen Services unit is very concerned about crimes committed against U.S. citizens in Mexico and appreciates your decision to report the crime to us. This information helps us provide more accurate assessments of the personal security situation in this country and may help other U.S. citizens avoid being victimized.
If you have not already done so, you must also decide whether to pursue this through the Mexican judicial system. If you decide to do so, the initial step is filing a police report at a police station (a part of the ministerio publico). It is essential that you file your report as soon as possible so that the judicial police can start the criminal investigation process.
You can file a report with the police called a denuncia. This report is often necessary if you intend to make an insurance claim or need an official report for other purposes. The same denuncia is used if there is going to be any criminal charge filed or if the suspect on perpetrator has been caught or an arrest is likely. Consular personnel can provide the address of the appropriate ministerio publico) office and will go with you to file this report if you would like them to do so. If your time is short in Mexico, but you still want to file a complaint, you may do so either at the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C., or at any of the Mexican Consulates in the United States.
If you do decide to file a report, the Consulate will maintain a copy of it, together with your address and phone number in the event the Consulate or Mexican officials need to communicate with you. While we are not authorized to act as your legal representative, a prosecutor, or a investigator, our office can help you track the progress of your case and advise you of any developments.