ALTHOUGH RECENT INTEREST IN LATIN AMERICA HAS FOSTERED THE DOCUMENTATION OF ITS ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS, LITERATURE ON ITS CRIMINAL POLICIES IS ALMOST NONEXISTENT. THIS OVERVIEW OF CRIME AND PENAL JUSTICE INDICATES THAT THE 20 COUNTRIES OF LATIN AMERICA COMPOSE A PATCHWORK OF LATIN, GRAECO-ROMAN, CHRISTIAN, HISPANIC, AND IBERIAN CULTURE, UNIFIED BY THIRD WORLD SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL SIMILARITIES AND BY THE CONTINUAL THREAT OF HOSTILE FOREIGN POWERS. THE DISCUSSION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES IN THE AREAS OF CRIMINALITY AND CRIME AND REFERRING TO THE CRIMINAL AND AND SOCIAL REACTION TO DEVIANCE INCLUDES A COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF CRIME WHICH REVEALS A CHARACTERISTICALLY HIGH LEVEL OF VIOLENCE. THE EXTENT OF ECONOMIC, VICTIMLESS, AND INTERNATIONAL CRIME IS DETAILED, AND THE FACTORS (POLITICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, HISTORICAL, SOCIOECONOMIC, DEMOGRAPHIC, CULTURAL) THAT INFLUENCE THEM ARE DISCUSSED. LATIN AMERICAN SOCIAL REACTION TO CRIME IS EXPLORED, WITH REGARD TO PENAL LEGISTRATION, THE POLICE, THE JUDICIARY, CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, TREATMENT (REHABILITATION) CENTERS, AND POSTRELEASE AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES. THE STUDY CONCLUDES THAT THE TRADITIONAL FORMS OF CRIME ARE LARGELY THE RESULTS OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE AND SOCIOECONOMIC DISADVANTAGES; THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FAVORS THE POLITICAL-ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF A MINORITY, REFLECTING DOGMATIC AND AUTHORITARIAN TENDENCIES; AND IS PERPETUATED BY POLICE CORRUPTION, COURT DELAYS, AND DEPLORABLE PRISON CONDITIONS. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY AND REFORM ARE SUGGESTED. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY AND TABLES SUPPLEMENT THE TEXT. --IN FRENCH. (MHP)