Pulse of Justice in Latin America

Latin American countries have made significant gains in reforming their political and economic systems over the past two decades. Democracy and open markets have been largely restored in almost every country of the region, with Cuba being the grim exception. But the third leg of successful government, the justice system, lags severely.

Reform won’t be easy, but it cannot be delayed if the Latin nations want to establish stability under law and to work within the global community. As Times correspondent Sebastian Rotella detailed in a recent series of Times reports, a new breed of justice officials and systems is positively reshaping Latin attitudes toward the police, courts and jails.

The Argentine government is policing its police, particularly on the score of corruption in the ranks. Bolivia’s government is changing archaic laws and limiting the oft-abused powers of state prosecutors. In giant Brazil, reformers in and out of government are transforming prisons from dismal cages to places where inmates earn wages through work and require less supervision.

Reforming judicial systems is never easy and won’t happen quickly in Latin America. But the outlines of the problem are clear. Reform must start by recognizing that the system is overburdened. Proceedings are endlessly delayed. Judges are poorly paid and badly trained, and the courts have little money to improve the system. Add to that what Latins call la impunidad, the gall with which powerful people evade taxes or break the laws.

Most Latin Americans have no confidence that they would be treated fairly in the hands of the police or courts. Reform can start with an increase in the tiny corps of attorneys willing to handle pro bono defenses.

Simple respect would help, an attitude among all classes that the accused deserve a defense. Laws, some of which date to the Spanish colonial era, must be brought into sync with modern jurisprudence. That will take money and time, but for Latin Americans every cent and hour will pay off. The confidence of a continent depends on reform.