Experience and regional impact
Commitment and experience in transforming justice systems in the Americas
Studies and publications
Find here the studies that the Justice Studies Center of the Americas has conducted.
Reform of Criminal Justice and Penitentiary Systems
- Cooperation for the investigation and prosecution of transnational organized crime in Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Argentina (2024)
- Challenges for the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Latin America (2023)
- Effective Criminal Defense with a Gender Perspective in Latin America (2022)
- Autonomy of the Public Criminal Defense Office (2021)
- Penitentiary Systems and Criminal Enforcement in Latin America. A regional perspective and options for addressing the issue (2021)
- Adversarial Criminal Justice in Latin America: Comparative Analysis and Proposals (2020)
- Journal No. 23 “Judicial Systems, A perspective on the administration of justice (Criminal Analysis)” (2020)
- Issue No. 5 “Journal of the Western Legal Community” (2020)
- CEJA® Working Paper – Effective Criminal Prosecution and the Rule of Law: Challenges and Lines of Action for Latin America (2020)
- Project “Adversarial Criminal Justice in Latin America” (2019)
- Adversarial Criminal Justice in Latin America: Comparative Analysis and Proposals (2019)
- Adversarial Criminal Justice in Latin America: Towards Conflict Management and the Strength of the Law (2018)
- Challenging the Inquisition: Ideas and Proposals for a Criminal Procedure Reform in Brazil (2017)
- Guide for the Implementation of Alternative Mechanisms to the Judicial Process to Promote Access to Justice (2016)
- International cooperation for crime prevention and criminal justice in the context of development (2015)
- Comparative study of criminal justice systems in Latin America and the Caribbean (2014)
- Challenges for the Investigation and Criminal Prosecution of Crimes with a Certain Complexity (2013)
- Virtual Publication Preventive Detention in Latin America: Approaches to deepen the debate (2013)
- Survey of information on Justice in non-criminal matters in Latin America (2012)
- Studies on Preventive Detention (2011)
- Experiences in Latin America: The challenge of evaluating citizen security programs (2011)
- Record of Orality in other subjects (2010)
- Monitoring and Evaluation Reports on Criminal Procedure Reforms (2010)
- Criminal justice systems facing crimes of serious social impact (2010)
- Publication Studies on Preventive Detention (2010)
- Justice Reforms in Latin America (2010)
- National criminal prosecution of international crimes in Latin America and Spain (2010)
- Study on the recourse regimes in the accusatory criminal procedural systems in the Americas (2009)
- Support for criminal procedural innovation processes (2009)
- Study “Criminal justice systems facing crimes of serious social impact” (2009)
- Studies “Preventive Detention and Results Inter-American Seminar” (2009)
- Study “Good Practices for the investigation, prosecution and punishment of the crimes of homicide and corruption in countries of the Americas” (2008)
- Study “Challenges of Pretrial Detention in Criminal Procedure Reform” (2008)
- Monitoring Criminal Procedure Reforms: studies, publication and dissemination (2008)
- Publication “Revolution in the Latin American criminal process: dissemination of legal ideas from the periphery” (2008)
- Journal No. 14 “Judicial Systems. A perspective on the administration of justice (Preventive Detention)” (2007)
- Study “Advances and challenges of public defenders to guarantee access to justice in criminal procedural reforms in Latin America” (2007)
- Monitoring Criminal Procedure Reforms: studies, publications and dissemination (2007)
- Empirical studies of the Criminal Procedure Reform, Update Monitoring Project: study, publication and dissemination (2006)
- Criminal Procedure Reform and Indigenous Peoples (2006)
- Journal No. 11 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Justice and Corruption)” (2006)
- Publication “Public Criminal Defense Manual for Latin America and the Caribbean” (2006)
- Update of follow-up studies of criminal procedure reforms (Bolivia, Costa Rica and Guatemala) (2005)
- Gender and criminal procedural reforms (2nd stage) (2005)
- Reforms to criminal justice and indigenous peoples (2005)
- Manual on Challenges of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Latin America (2005)
- Monitoring of Criminal Procedure Reforms (3rd stage 2004) (2004)
- Comparative report on the evaluation of the Criminal Procedure Reform from a Gender Perspective (First phase: Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala) (2004)
- Gender and criminal procedural reforms (2004)
- Follow-up study of criminal procedure reforms (2002)
- Criminal Policy and Regional Integration in MERCOSUR (2002)
- Monitoring of criminal procedural reforms (2001)
Reform of Civil and Family Justice
- Manual of Litigation in Complex Environmental Civil Cases (2021)
- Jury Trials in Civil Justice. Materials and reflections from Argentina (2021)
- Comparative Studies on Civil Justice System Reforms Volume III: China and Japan (2021)
- Comparative study of civil procedural codes in Latin America (2020)
- Comparative Study on Civil Procedural Reforms in Latin America (2020)
- Research. Evaluation of Civil Procedural Reforms in the last decade (2019)
- Civil Conflict and Barriers to Access to Justice in Latin America. Report on Couple and Family Relations (2019)
- Study on civil justice systems in Latin America that have not been reformed (2018)
- Study on the use of oral processes in civil justice (2018)
- Comparative study of civil procedural codes in Latin America (2018)
- Thematic reports through the Observatory on Civil Conflicts and Access to Justice (OCCA) (2018)
- Observatory of Civil Conflict and Access to Justice (OCCA) (2018)
- Executive Summary Civil Conflict and Barriers to Access to Justice in Latin America – Barriers to Access to Justice in Latin America Housing and Land Report (2018)
- Evaluation and monitoring of civil procedural reforms (2017)
- Paper and digital publication of “Manual of Civil Mediation” (From the “Civil Adversarial System” Collection) (2017)
- Paper and digital publication of “Manual of Civil Litigation” (From the “Civil Adversarial System” Collection) (2017)
- Paper and digital publication of the study “Multidisciplinary Dialogue on the New Civil Justice of Latin America” (2017)
- Handbook for conducting hearings for civil judges (2016)
- Contributions to a dialogue on access to justice and civil reform in Latin America (2013)
- Study on the current situation of labor justice reform in Chile and Peru (2013)
- Study on Civil Enforcement Systems in Latin America and Europe (2012)
- Study on Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Latin America in non-criminal matters (2012)
- Study on the current state of labor justice reform in Latin America (2012)
- Preparation of a study on labor justice reform (2011)
- Study “The Transformation of Civil Justice in Ibero-America: content and challenges” (2010)
- Record of Orality in other subjects (2010)
- Study: Foundations for a reform of Civil Justice (2009)
- Foundations for a Reform of Civil Justice (2008)
- Publication “Civil Justice: A Perspective for Reform in Latin America” (2008)
- Trends in family law processes in Latin America (2006)
- Non-criminal justice systems in Latin America: Information on civil, commercial, labor, family and administrative litigation
Judicial Independence and Integrity
- Indicators to evaluate the independence of judges and prosecutors in the Americas (2025)
- Independence of Justice Operators in the Americas: Regional Situation and Challenges for Democratic Defense (2023)
- Independence of Justice Operators in the Americas. Regional overview and challenges for the defense of democracy (2023)
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, impact and challenges for an independent judiciary (2021)
- Publication “Judicial Governance: Independence and Strengthening of the Judiciary in Latin America” (2018)
- Efforts to increase judicial independence and impartiality in Latin America (2016)
- Guidelines for promoting judicial independence and impartiality: Initiatives to improve judicial independence in Latin America: A comparative perspective (2002)
Government and Judicial Management
- I Judicial Congestion Index in the Americas (2025)
- Journal No. 25 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Judicial management from practice)” (2025)
- Publication “Measuring to Decide: Surveys of legal needs and public policies for access to justice” (2020)
- Publication “Judicial Governance: Independence and Strengthening of the Judiciary in Latin America” (2018)
- Study on “The impact of surveys on legal needs in Latin America”. (2018)
- Journal No. 21 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Litigation and the hearing system)” (2018)
- Judicial management of the new civil courts (2018)
- Study on “Legal Needs Surveys” (2017)
- Paper and virtual publication of “Judicial Training: A Study on the Practices of Judicial Schools” Spanish and English versions (Judicial Training in Latin America: Study on the practices of the Judicial Colleges) (2017)
- Study on “Training Practices in Judicial Schools of Latin America” (2017)
- Manual on judicial organization and case management (2016)
- Handbook for conducting hearings for civil judges (2016)
- Study on “Training Practices in Judicial Schools of Latin America” (2016)
- Journal No. 19 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Administration of Justice and Crimes Against Humanity)” (2015)
- Journal No. 18 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (The New Hearing Management Offices)” (2014)
- Study on the approach to the issue of legal security developed by Judicial Schools in Ibero-America (2011)
- Where is Local Government Going in Latin America? A Comparative Perspective (2011)
- Prosecution of Complex Crimes – Capabilities of Criminal Justice Systems in Latin America (2010)
- Journal No. 17 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Trial by Jury)” (2009)
- Journal No. 15 “Judicial Systems. A perspective on the administration of justice (Criminal Investigation – Judicial Structure)” (2008)
- Journal No. 13 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Supreme Courts)” (2008)
- Debt collection and enforcement proceedings in Europe (2008)
- Report on Justice in the Americas 2008 – 2009. (2008)
- Report on Justice in the Americas 2006 – 2007. (2007)
- Journal No. 8 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Possibilities and limits of comparison in the judicial systems of the Americas)” (2005)
- Judicial system and racism against Afro-descendants: Brazil, Colombia, Peru and the Dominican Republic (2004)
- Judicial system and racism against Afro-descendants: Concluding observations and recommendations (2004)
- Private Financing of Justice: Court Fees (2004)
- Report on Justice in the Americas 2004-2005. (2004)
- Report on Justice in the Americas 2002-2003. (2003)
- Comparative Study of Public Prosecutor’s Offices: Argentina, Chile and the United States. Proposals for an Efficient Model (2003)
- Journal No. 1 “Judicial Systems. A perspective on the administration of justice (Crisis in judicial training?) (2002)
- A New Public Management for Latin America (1998)
Judicial Information, Information Technologies and Transparency
- Journal No. 24 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Justice and Technology) (2021)
- State of Justice in Latin America under COVID-19: General measures adopted and use of ICTs in judicial processes (2020)
- Publication Third Version of the Online Judicial Services Index, ISJL (2018)
- Experiences of Innovation in Civil Justice Systems in Latin America (2017)
- Version 10 of the Internet Judicial Information Accessibility Index (IAcc) (2016–2017)
- Publication of the Second Version of the Online Judicial Services Index, ISJL (2016)
- Version 9 of the Internet Judicial Information Accessibility Index (IAcc) (2014)
- Version 8 of the Internet Judicial Information Accessibility Index (IAcc) (2012)
- Information management and crime analysis within the framework of criminal prosecution for crimes (2012)
- The impact of Information Technologies on citizens’ access to judicial information and justice (2012)
- Version 7 of the Internet Judicial Information Accessibility Index (IAcc) (2011)
- Publication of the First Version of the Online Judicial Services Index, ISJL (2011)
- Version 6 of the Internet Judicial Information Accessibility Index (IAcc) (2010)
- Study “Effective Justice: The Role of New Technologies in the Transformation of the Judicial System” (2010)
- Version 5 of the Internet Judicial Information Accessibility Index (IAcc) (2009)
- Version 4 of the Internet Judicial Information Accessibility Index (IAcc) (2008)
- Building Justice. State-Civil Society Collaboration for Access to Justice and Democratic Governance (2008)
- “Ibero-American Plan for Judicial Statistics” (PLIEJ).(2008)
- White Paper on the Use of Technology in Justice (2008)
- Judicial Indicators Project for Ibero-America. (2007)
- E-justice: Information and knowledge technologies at the service of Ibero-American justice in the 21st century (2007)
- Version 3 of the Internet Judicial Information Accessibility Index (IAcc) (2007)
- Version 2 of the Internet Judicial Information Accessibility Index (IAcc) (2006)
- “Comparative study on budgetary and administrative management of courts and tribunals and statistical treatment of information on the functioning of the judicial system” developed for the Secretariat for Judicial Reform of Brazil. (2006)
- Civil society and judicial reform in Latin America (2005)
- Comparative Study on Budget Management (2005)
- Version 1 of the Internet Judicial Information Accessibility Index (IAcc) (2004)
- Judicial indicators for Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico (2004)
- Collection of statistical information and generation of justice indicators. (2004)
- Civil Society Monitoring of the Implementation of the Quebec Action Plan: MERCOSUR Results (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay) (2004)
- Presentation of the book ‘Justice and Civil Society – the role of civil society in judicial reform, case studies in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru. (2003)
- Presentation of the book ‘Justice and Civil Society – the role of civil society in judicial reform, case studies in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru. (2003)
- Study on the role of Civil Society in judicial reforms. (2002)
- Changes in the justice system and civil society (2002)
- A regional study that seeks to explore the possibilities that exist today to promote modernization programs for judicial systems through coordinated and ongoing action by organized civil society. (2001)
Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms
- Study “Different ways to provide access to justice in justiciable family and housing problems: comparative analysis based on two case studies”. (2024)
- Study “Ways of resolving civil and family conflicts and their effectiveness in Colombia and Peru (IDR-CEJA)” (2023)
- Study on Negotiated Justice in the United States, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay (2022)
- EXECUTIVE SUMARY Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) (2022)
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – Online Conflict Resolution (2022)
- Judicial Conferences (JDR): A proposal for conflict resolution in Latin America (2020)
- Journal No. 20 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Alternative conflict resolution mechanism)” (2017)
- Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in Latin America (2016)
- Alternative Mechanisms to the Judicial Process to Promote Access to Justice in Latin America (2015)
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Latin America in non-criminal matters (2012)
- Book “Arbitration and Mediation in the Americas” (2006)
- Journal No. 2 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Alternative conflict resolution)” (2002)
- An approach to alternative conflict resolution mechanisms in Latin America (2002)
Access to justice, vulnerable groups and gender
- People-Centered Justice. Access to formal, alternative and community justice in Colombia and Peru (2024)
- People – Centered Justice: Access to Formal, Alternative, and Community Justice in Colombia and Peru (2024)
- Study “Different ways to provide access to justice in justiciable family and housing problems: comparative analysis based on two case studies”. (2024)
- Study “Report on access to justice in Ibero-America”, in collaboration with Pathfinders (2023)
- Effective Criminal Defense with a Gender Perspective in Latin America (2022)
- Working Paper Right to Health (2022)
- Working Paper Social Protest and Democracy (2022)
- Working Paper Access to Justice (2022)
- Publication “Gender judicial offices in Latin America: Progress and pending challenges” (2021)
- Civil Conflict and Barriers to Access to Justice in Latin America. Health Report (2020)
- Access to justice in Latin America (2020 )
- Measuring to decide. Surveys of legal needs and public policies for access to justice (2020)
- Civil Conflict and Barriers to Access to Justice in Latin America. Report on Couple and Family Relations (2019)
- Journal No. 22 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Gender, sexual diversity and justice)” (2019)
- Publication “The dialogue on the jurisdictional protection of the rights to health, education, work, social security and a healthy environment in Latin American countries” (Environment Report) (2019)
- Publication “The dialogue on the jurisdictional protection of the rights to health, education, work, social security and a healthy environment in Latin American countries” (Health and Food Report) (2019)
- Publication “The dialogue on the jurisdictional protection of the rights to health, education, work, social security and a healthy environment in Latin American countries” (Report on Labor, Social Security and Education) (2019)
- Access to Civil Justice. Connections between Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada (2018)
- Study on the incorporation of the gender approach in justice systems in Latin America (2018)
- Right of Access to Justice: Contributions to the construction of a Latin American body of knowledge (2017)
- Improving Access to Justice in Latin America (2015)
- Alternative Mechanisms to Promote Access to Justice in Latin America (2014)
- Alternative mechanisms to promote access to justice in Latin America from a public policy perspective (2013)
- Indigenous Women’s Access to Justice in Latin America (2010)
- Survey of good practices regarding access to justice for vulnerable populations (2010)
- Dissemination Manual on Gender Issues in Criminal Justice in Latin America (2010)
- Progress and challenges of public defenders in guaranteeing access to justice in criminal procedural reforms in Latin America (2007)
- Criminal Procedure Reform and Indigenous Peoples (2006)
- Reforms to criminal justice and indigenous peoples (2005)
- Juvenile Justice Systems: The Comparative Experience Canada, United States, United Kingdom (England and Scotland) (2005)
- Judicial system and racism against Afro-descendants: Brazil, Colombia, Peru and the Dominican Republic (2004)
- Judicial system and racism against Afro-descendants: Concluding observations and recommendations (2004)
- Gender and criminal procedural reforms (2004)
- Study on racial discrimination against people of African descent (2004)
- Indigenous Justice and Judicial Reforms (2004)
- Juvenile criminal responsibility systems in Latin America (2001)
- Some confusions surrounding the legal consequences of transgressing criminal law in the new Latin American juvenile justice systems (2001)
Judicial Systems Journal
- Magazine No. 25 – Judicial Management from a practical perspective
- Magazine No. 24 – Justice and Technology
- Magazine No. 23 – Criminal Analysis
- Magazine No. 22 – Gender, sexual diversity and justice
- Issue No. 21 – Litigation and the Hearing System
- Magazine No. 20 – Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms
- Magazine No. 19 – Administration of Justice and Crimes Against Humanity
- Magazine No. 18 – The New Audience Management Offices
- Magazine No. 17 – Jury Trial
- Issue No. 16 – The Role of New Technologies in Justice Systems
- Magazine No. 15 – Criminal Investigation – Judicial Structure
- Magazine No. 14 – Preventive Detention
- Magazine No. 13 – Supreme Courts
- Magazine No. 12 – Other Justices
- Magazine No. 11 – Justice and Corruption
- Magazine No. 10 – Judicial Government
- Magazine No. 9 – Law and Legal Education
- Magazine No. 8 – Possibilities and Limitations of Comparison
- Issue No. 7 – Orality and Formalization of Justice
- Magazine No. 6 – Judges and Information
- Magazine No. 5 – Judicial Management and Court Administration
- Issue No. 4 – Independence and Judicial Responsibility
- Issue No. 3 – Criminal procedural reforms in Latin America
- Magazine No. 2 – Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Issue No. 1 – Crisis in judicial training?
Others
- The practice of law in Latin America: in search of a work agenda Vol. II (2022)
- The practice of law in Latin America: in search of a work agenda Vol. I (2021)
- Design and development of Law in Latin America (2017)
- Latin American and Caribbean Network for the Democratization of Justice (2017)
- Peace Courts in Latin America. Basis of a democratic and republican justice system (2017)
- Virtual Publication of the book “The Doctrine on Conventionality Control and its Application in some National Experiences” (2016)
- Study on the application of the American Convention on Human Rights in the functioning of the justice system in the Americas (2014)
- World Day for Decent Work (2008)
- Families and public policies in Latin America: A history of disagreements (2007)
- Violence and Growth in Latin America (2007)
- Journal No. 12 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Other justices)” (2007)
- International experience in treatment and support systems for victims of crime (2006)
- Journal No. 9 “Judicial Systems. An integral perspective on the administration of justice (Law and Legal Education)” (2005)
- A look at constitutional reforms in Latin America (2003)
- Economic development and judicial reform: International experiences and ideas for Latin America (2003)
- Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Framework for Action (1999)