Mexico City, Mexico — The US Embassy in Mexico says the United States government will provide $68 million over five years to assist Mexico's effort to reform its court and justice system.

The US government's Agency for International Development will oversee the plan, known as "Promoting Justice."

Mexico's slow, cumbersome paper-based trial system is being changed to something that more closely resembles the US court system, though without juries. Lawyers will question and cross-examine witnesses in open court, and defendants will be considered innocent until proven guilty.

Some of Mexico's 31 states have implemented parts of the reform, including changes aimed at speeding up trials and allowing leeway for non-prison sentences.

The embassy said that the money will go to help train judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys.