justice sector in latin america: where does it stand? alejandro ponce the world justice project

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Justice sector in Latin America:Where does it stand?

Alejandro PonceThe World Justice Project

May 2012

2World Justice Forum | www.wjp-forum.org | [email protected]

This presentation Comparative analysis of current performance

of justice institutions in Latin America


Framework Political dimension

Oversight of government branches and making accountable government officials

Social and economic dimension Citizen security (criminal justice system)

Deterrence and redress, while ensuring that fundamental rights are protected

Dispute resolution (civil justice system)Obtain remedies in conformity with fundamental

rights (access, efficiency, and fairness)



Social and economic dimension

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Oversight function

SF 1.3 Government powers are effectively limited by the judiciarySource: WJP Rule of Law Index 2011

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0.00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0

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Oversight functionCh

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SF 1.3 Government powers are effectively limited by the judiciarySource: WJP Rule of Law Index 2011

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Impunity

SF 1.5 Government officials are sanctioned for misconductSource: WJP Rule of Law Index 2011


Please assume that a high-ranking government officer is taking government money for personal benefit. Please also assume that one of his employees witnesses this conduct, reports it to the relevant authority, and provides sufficient evidence to prove it. Please assume that the press obtains the information and publishes the story. Which one of the following outcomes is most likely?

The accusation is completely ignored by the authorities (0.0) An investigation is opened, but it never reaches any conclusions (0.5) The officer is prosecuted and punished (through fines or time in prison) (1.0)

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Chile

Jam

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Mex

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Arge

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0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0


Ciudad de México (27 febrero 2011).- De mil 779 personas denunciadas penalmente por la Secretaría de la Función Pública (SFP) por delitos asociados a corrupción, únicamente una ha sido consignada y quedó libre bajo fianza.

Y es que la Ley de Servidores Públicos vigente no considera como delito grave el desvío, la malversación, el peculado ni ningún otro de los más de 300 que sanciona, y eso impide que los funcionarios que los cometen sean encarcelados.



Social and economic dimension Citizen security (criminal justice system)

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Dom

inic

a...

Peru

Arge

ntina

Gua

tem

ala

Colo

mbi

a

Chile

Mex

ico

Vene

zuel

a

El S

alva

dor

Boliv

ia

Braz

il

Jam

aica

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

Burglary rates

Source: WJP Rule of Law Index 2011


Business costs of crime and violence

Region Score

Eastern Europe and Central Asia 5.1

Sub-Saharan Africa 4.3

East Asia & Pacific 5.1

South Asia 4.2

Latin America & Caribbean 3.3

Middle East & North Africa 5.3

Source: WEF Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012

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Conviction Rates (burglary)


Rest

of t

he ..

.

Mex

ico

Chile

Colo

mbi

a

Arge

ntina

Boliv

ia

El S

alva

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Jam

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Braz

il

Peru

Vene

zuel

a

Gua

tem

ala0.00

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

0.12

0.14

0.16


Mob justice

Region % without harmEastern Europe and Central Asia 70%Sub-Saharan Africa 29%East Asia & Pacific 62%South Asia 45%Latin America & Caribbean 41%Middle East & North Africa 56%


Assume that a criminal is apprehended by your neighbors after committing a serious crime. Which of the following two situations is more likely to happen? - The criminal gets beaten by the neighbors- The criminal is turned over to the authorities without harm


Comparative analysis of the criminal justice system

Crimes are effectively investigated. Crimes are effectively and timely adjudicated. The correctional system is effective in reducing

criminal behavior. The criminal justice system is impartial. The criminal justice system is free of corruption. The criminal justice system is free of improper

government influence. The criminal justice system accords the accused due

process of law.


Effective criminal justice system

Region Score




South Asia 0.45



Developed economies 0.75


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Criminal justice system

Chile

Jamaica

Peru

Dominican Republic

Brazil

Colombia

Guatemala

El Salvador

Argentina

Bolivia

Mexico

Venezuela

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5

Crimes inves-tigated

Crimes adju-dicated.

Correctional system

Impartial

Free of corruption.

Free of gov-ernment in-fluence.

Due process of law


Comparative analysis of the civil justice system

People are aware of available remedies. People can access and afford legal advice and

representation. People can access and afford civil courts. Civil justice is free of discrimination. Civil justice is free of corruption. Civil justice is free of improper government influence. Civil justice is not subject to unreasonable delays. Civil justice is effectively enforced.



Social and economic dimension Citizen security (criminal justice system) Dispute resolution (civil justice system)


Civil dispute During the past three years, have you or

someone in your household had a conflict with someone who refused to fulfill a contract or pay a debt?

Which one of the following mechanisms was used to solve the conflict?



Civil disputesCountry Court No actionArgentina 38% 15%Brazil 20% 37%Chile 28% 40%Colombia 31% 24%El Salvador 40% 21%Guatemala 36% 34%Mexico 35% 13%Peru 32% 14%Venezuela 36% 12%

Middle Income w/o LA 33% 33%


Civil disputesCountry No action rich No action poorArgentina 15% 14%Brazil 31% 42%Chile 25% 49%Colombia 18% 30%El Salvador 6% 25%Guatemala 33% 37%Mexico 9% 17%Peru 14% 14%Venezuela 7% 22%

Middle Income w/o LA 32% 33%


Civil disputesCountry Fair Slow ExpensiveArgentina 39% 15% 44%Brazil 76% 55% 67%Chile 76% 47% 85%Colombia 59% 15% 51%El Salvador 38% 12% 60%Guatemala 68% 33% 65%Mexico 48% 24% 40%Peru 54% 4% 16%Venezuela 44% 22% 63%

Middle Inc wo LA 54% 21% 39%


Access to civil justiceRegion Score




South Asia 0.40



Developed economies 0.69



Access to civil justice


Access and afford legal advice

Access and afford civil courts

Free of discrimination

Free of corruption

Free of improper government influence

Not subject to unreasonable delays

Effectively enforced

ADRs

0.00

0.50

1.00

Latin AmericaOther middle incomeHigh income

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Access to justice

Chile

Brazil

Colombia

Argentina

Jamaica

El Salvador

Dominican Republic

Peru

Guatemala

Bolivia

Mexico

Venezuela

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Legal repre-sentation

Accessible

Impartial

Free of cor-ruption

Free of govt. influence

Quick

Enforced

ADRs


Summary (1) Substantial variation in the performance of

the justice sector in the region

There is important variation in the oversight function, with some countries enjoying a fair system of checks and balances; however the perception of impunity among government officials who break the law remains widespread


Summary (2) The judicial sector struggles to provide protection

from crime or to punish perpetrators of abuses. Nowadays, Latin American countries show the highest crime rates in the world and the criminal justice systems rank among the worst in the world.

The performance of civil justice system is mixed, although generally inaccessible for disadvantaged groups

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Thank youAlejandro Ponce

The World Justice Project

[email protected]

www.worldjusticeproject.org

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mailto:[email protected]

http://www.worldjusticeproject.org/

justice sector in latin america: where does it stand? alejandro ponce the world justice project

Documents

fairness world justice

justice sector

wjp rule of law index

government powers

government money

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