The Story of ENVIPE

• Published date: 01 February 2025
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/10439862241290696
• Author: Mario Palma
• Date: 01 February 2025

https://doi.org/10.1177/10439862241290696

Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice

2025, Vol. 41(1) 216 –224

© The Author(s) 2024

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DOI: 10.1177/10439862241290696

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Article

The Story of ENVIPE

Mario Palma1

Abstract

This article purports to narrate the particular circumstances in which the Mexican

National Survey on Victimization and Perception of Public Security (ENVIPE) came

into being as a response to correct the lack of information about a social problem

(crime) that was (and is) seriously affecting the country. It describes the events and the

actions of the agencies and individuals involved that led to the design and eventually

carrying out of an annual survey that has become a centerpiece of information on

crime for Mexico and that, in turn, has contributed to the development of similar

surveys in other Latin American countries. It presents its main features and some of

the challenges it may face in the future.

Keywords

crime, lack of information, victimization surveys, conceptual statistical design,

communication strategy

Further reference to this story can be found in the author’s book: Why INEGI? The

Saga of a Mexican Institution in Search of the Truth (Palma, 2021).

It is appropriate, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. National Crime

Survey, to recognize its positive influence in the development of ENVIPE, and my

appreciation for the kind invitation to write this story.

Context

The Mexican National Survey on Victimization and Perception of Public Security

known by its Spanish acronym, ENVIPE, was carried out for the first time in 2011. It

1International Association for Official Statistics (IAOS), The Hague, The Netherlands

Corresponding Author:

Mario Palma, Former Member of the Governing Board of National Institute of Statistics and Geography

(INEGI), Paseo del Rio 33-4, Coyoacan, 04319 CDMX, Mexico.

Email: mpalmarojo@hotmail.com

1290696CCJXXX10.1177/10439862241290696Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice XX(X)Palma

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