Satisfied with positive results of an outreach program geared for the expatriate community that was implemented last April, personnel from the Chapala District Attorney’s office and the human rights division of Jalisco’s Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) are committed to continuing bimonthly services offered at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) campus.
The justice officials are available to register formal denuncias (denouncements) from crime victims, provide status reports on pending cases and offer guidance on dealing with all sorts of legal issues. As a general rule, visitors will find Chapala Ministerio Público (MP) bilingual agent Omar Franco and human rights officer Luis Guzmán on duty to assist in bridging language barriers.
Attendance records show that 15 to 20 expats take advantage of the outreach program every month. The service has generated approximately five complaints and related crime investigations per month.
The outcome of the initiative has included the resolution and payment in a fraud case and the arrest of various robbery suspects identified by victims. In addition, the officials have dispensed advice on criminal suits and handling civil matters, such as disputes with local homeowner associations, service providers and government agencies.
“Above all the program has succeeded in building better relations with the foreign community and instilling greater confidence in the authorities,” says regional MP supervisor Rogelio Reyes. He has also noticed that foreigners seem to be more comfortable doing business directly at Chapala MP headquarters, knowing that an English-speaking officer is on the staff.
Services at LCS will resume on January 14 and 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Talking Books library room. Subsequent sessions will continue on the first and third Wednesday of each month, same time and place, except on dates that conflicts arise when the U.S. Consulate modifies its regular schedule for visits to lakeside.
The Chapala MP office is located at Calle Juárez 573, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., telephone 765-2415.