Factors associated with extrajudicial arrest for syringe possession: results of a department-wide survey of municipal police in Tijuana, Mexico

• DOI: 10.1186/s12914-018-0175-1
• Publication Date: 2018-09-16T04:41:04Z
• Authors: Mario Morales; Claudia Rafful; Tommi L. Gaines; Javier A. Cepeda; Daniela Abramovitz; Irina Artamonova; Pieter Baker; Erika Clairgue; Maria Luisa Mittal; Teresita Rocha-Ji...; Jaime Arredondo; Thomas Kerr; Arnulfo Bañuelos; Steffanie A. Stra...; Leo Beletsky
• Keywords: Possession (linguistics); Health department; Police department

Mexican law permits syringe purchase and possession without prescription. Nonetheless, people who inject drugs (PWID) frequently report arrest for possession. Extrajudicial arrests not only violate human rights, but also significantly increase the risk of blood-borne infection transmission other health harms among PWID police personnel. To better understand how practices contribute to environment, prior research has primarily examined drug user perspectives experiences. This study focuses on municipal officers (MPOs) in Tijuana, Mexico identify factors associated with self-reported possession.Participants were active aged ≥18 years, completed a self-administered questionnaire knowledge, attitudes behaviors related occupational safety, laws, harm reduction strategies. Univariable multivariable logistic regression was used correlates recent arrest.Among 1044 MPOs, nearly half (47.9%) reported always/sometimes making (previous 6mo). Factors independently more frequent included being male (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.62; 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] =1.04-2.52; working district along Tijuana River Canal (where congregate) (AOR 2.85; 95%CI 2.16-3.77); having recently experienced physical altercation 2.83; CI 2.15-3.74); referred social services 1.97; 1.48-2.61). Conversely, odds lower reporting knowing that is legal 0.61; 0.46-0.82).Police criminal justice stakeholders (e.g., judges, prosecutors) play key role shaping environment. Findings highlight urgent need structural interventions reduce extra-judicial arrests. Police training, increasing gender forms diversity, policy reforms at various governmental institutional levels are necessary risks, improve knowledge facilitate strategies promote rights community health.