In 2008, the Government of Mexico (GOM), under increasing pressure from justice sector stakeholders and civil society networks, approved constitutional reforms mandating the nation-wide adoption of an adversarial criminal justice system. The reforms required all state and federal jurisdictions to implement justice reforms by June 2016, and to improve the transparency, effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice proceedings, while protecting due process, promoting assistance to crime victims and strengthening human rights. Since the 2016 transition, USAID has focused on the consolidation of the reform at the state level, with an emphasis on decreasing high levels of impunity through prioritization of investigative and prosecutorial resources. U.S. Government support for the reforms is part of the Merida Initiative.