Societies face a challenge in restraining coercive institutions like the police force to create more humane criminal justice systems.

We demonstrate that two factors explain torture's persistence even in democratic societies:

• Weak procedural protections
• The militarization of policing, which introduces strategies, equipment, and mentality treating suspects as enemies in wartime

Our study uses a large survey of the Mexican prison population. Data from over 800 respondents reveals that police brutality is not merely an isolated issue but widespread.

Key findings:

• Torture rates are highest among those arrested at night or outside prison walls
• Militarization correlates strongly with increased use of force against suspects

This reform has yielded unexpected results. Despite abolishing inquisitorial criminal justice institutions, a colonial legacy, Mexican authorities continue struggling to address widespread police brutality.