Criminal procedural reform and the Ministerio Público: Toward the construction of a new criminal justice system in Latin America

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present a brief historical review of some aspects in the setting of the Latin American criminal procedure that are indispensable to provide anaccurate picture about the real content of it as well as a description of its main characteristics.This common background will allow us to discuss the current movement for the reform of the criminal procedure in Latin America and will also help us to understand its meaning andextent. The thesis was submitted by the author to the Stanford Program in International Legal Studies at Stanford Law School, Stanford University, to Fulfill the Requirements for the Degree of Juridical Sciences Master, May 1999.