Mexico City lawmakers may consider decriminalizing petty theft
Posted on Tue, May. 13, 2008
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Associated Press
MEXICO CITY --
Needy thieves will get a break if a Mexico City lawmaker has his way.
Jos=E9 Antonio Zepeda is proposing to abolish jail sentences for first-
time offenders caught stealing food, medicine and clothes in the
capital, Mexico City's Milenio newspaper re****ted on Tuesday.
Repeat infractions and violent robberies would still bring prison
time. The re****t didn't address how the law would determine who is
needy and who is just a petty thief, and Zepeda did not respond to an
e-mail message seeking comment.
The bill, which comes as food prices reach record highs, also would
help reduce the capital's swelling prison populations. Half of Mexico
City's 30,000 inmates were involved in nonviolent robberies, and 25
percent stole fewer than 1,000 pesos ($100) worth of property, the
newspaper said.
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