The Baja California Attorney General’s Office (FGE) directed its Juvenile Justice and Children’s Affairs divisions to strengthen early intervention efforts aimed at minors at risk of criminal involvement in Tijuana. The initiative included a prevention event called “Mi Escuela Libre de Violencia” (My School Free of Violence) held at CECyTE Plantel El Niño, a state technical high school in the city.
The event brought together government agencies, AG staff, and students for workshops focused on personal accountability and available support services. Staff from the FGE’s specialized youth divisions led the sessions, which aimed to identify vulnerable minors before they become entangled in criminal activity.
School-Based Approach to Youth Crime
The program represents a school-centered strategy that differs from traditional reactive policing. Rather than responding to crimes after they occur, the AG’s office is embedding prevention resources directly inside educational institutions. CECyTE (Colegio de Estudios Científicos y Tecnológicos) campuses serve working-class communities across Baja California, making them a logical entry point for reaching at-risk populations.
As part of the event, officials publicized the FGE’s Fiscalía Enlace hotline and its technology assistance center. Both resources are available to Tijuana residents who need help with youth-related safety concerns or want to report minors in dangerous situations.
Part of a Broader Security Push in Tijuana
The school-based program fits within a larger security strategy taking shape in Tijuana. Mayor Ismael Burgueño, a former elementary school teacher who took office in late 2024, has made youth crime prevention a central priority. His administration launched the “Safe Tijuana” program with a 2 billion peso (roughly $100 million USD) investment in equipment, technology, and community-driven crime prevention efforts before the end of 2025.
Burgueño has previously cited a significant increase in crimes committed by young people as a driving force behind his dual approach of youth outreach and upgraded police technology. Tijuana has faced years of escalating violence tied to organized crime and drug-trafficking disputes, and officials at both the state and municipal level have increasingly turned to prevention-focused programs alongside traditional enforcement.
The AG’s office did not specify how many students participated in the CECyTE event or whether similar sessions are planned at other Tijuana schools. The original report was published by Jornada BC.