Overview
- Jalisco’s Congress approved the new offense with 29 votes in favor and one abstention, ending an eight‑month pause and updating the state’s access-to-justice, civil and criminal codes.
- The statute sets punishments of four to eight years in prison plus 100 to 500 days of community work for acts or omissions that harm children or close relations to damage a woman.
- Reporting indicates all 32 Mexican states have now recognized violencia vicaria as an autonomous crime, with typical penalties of two to eight years in prison and civil measures such as loss of parental authority and suspended visitation.
- Experts describe the practice as a prelude to feminicide, and advocacy groups cite links to lethal outcomes, estimating more than 5,300 active cases and noting about 12% of partner feminicides followed threats or harm to children.
- Campaigners and specialists warn that judicial culture, family‑court practices, and limited training risk undermining enforcement, with documented delays and severe, lasting psychological harm to children.