The Supreme Council of Defense and Social Prevention, 1929–1931: from idealistic discourse to pragmatic failure

Abstract

This article is a study of the Supreme Council of Defense and Social Prevention, the first institution of its kind in Mexico, founded after the promulgation of the Penal Code of 1929. This entity sought to control crime and rehabilitate offenders, relying on contemporary theories of crime, such as criminal anthropology, social defense, and the third school. However, its existence was short-lived – barely twenty months – due to criticisms of inefficiency, violations of individual rights, and abuses of power. From the perspective of the history of ideas, this research addressed questions about the origin, development, and demise of this institution, offering less biased interpretations. The analysis of various primary sources predating the Supreme Council of Defense and Social Prevention by 50 years suggests that the budgetary blockades and restrictions on its functions were acts of protection by the legal guild, which felt threatened by emerging sciences and individuals from outside the legal community.