EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS FOCUS ON EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW, WHICH VENEZUELA IS EXTENDING TO ALL ITS CITIZENS, INCLUDING SOCIALLY HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS (SUCH AS THE NATIVE INDIO POPULATION); CRIME PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAMS; CORRECTIONAL REFORMS; STATISTICS ON PRISON INMATES; THE IMPORTANCE OF CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES TO ACHIEVE REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION GOALS; CRIME CAUSES ENDEMIC TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY FACTORS (BIOLOGICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL). FURTHER CONTRIBUTIONS PROVIDE THE FULL TEXT OF VENEZUELAN LAWS AND STATUTES DEALING WITH LOCAL COURTS, ESPECIALLY THE VENEZUELAN SUPREME COURT (ORGANIZATION, POWERS, JURISDICTION, FUNCTIONS, PROCEEDINGS, DISPOSITIONS, JUDGES, MAGISTRATES, JUDICIAL OFFICERS) WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON CIVIL PROCEEDINGS. OTHER VENEZUELAN JURIDICIAL ASPECTS COVERED ARE VENEZUELAN COURT SENTENCES ON SUCH MATTERS AS TRAFFIC OFFENSES, THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF LIBEL, LAWS AND STATUTES PERTAINING TO ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION, AND THE POWERS, JURISDICTION, AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OPERATING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, ESPECIALLY GOVERNMENT BANKS AND INSTITUTIONS OF PUBLIC CREDIT. BRIEFLY TREATED ARE SOME FUNCTIONS OF PUBLIC PROSECUTORS, THE VENEZUELAN BAR ASSOCIATION, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, FORENSIC PHYSICIANS, LEGISLATION ON LABOR AND ELECTIONS, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY. AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MONOGRAPHS AND PERIODICALS, AND A NAME AND SUBJECT INDEX ARE APPENDED. --IN SPANISH (LGR)