REFORMS IN CRIMINAL MATTER IN LATIN AMERICA: A SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH THE OPPORTUNITY OF CITIZEN SCRUTINY IN THE WAY OF IMPARTING JUSTICE

The following article shows the experiences of reform in criminal matter in some countries of Latin America such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, in order to describe the relation between and importance of the justice administration institutions within the construction of the emerging democracies, their citizenship and Elias Diaz's concept of the development of the Rule of Law rule of law. A comparison of the research done in these countries was made, defining common indicators. The text shows how alternative justice helps to strengthen the relation between justice and citizenship, for it allows the participation of the victim and accused parties in order to reach a damage reparation agreement. In the same way, the positive experiences in these countries are highlighted, such as the conflict resolution alternative mechanisms in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, the trials by jury in Argentina, as well as the deficiencies that must be repaired in order to achieve a social and democratic Rule of Law in full.