CURRENT CRIMINOLOGICAL REFORM, ESPECIALLY IN MEXICO, IS RELATIVELY PROGRESSIVE IN THEORY BUT WOEFULLY LACKING IN PRACTICE. IN VIEW OF THE CASE OVERLOAD IN THE COURTS AND THE PROVEN CRIMINOGENIC EFFECTS OF INCARCERATION ON NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS SERVING SHORT SENTENCES, DECRIMINALIZATION IS NEEDED FOR SUCH TYPES OF BEHAVIOR AS TRAFFIC-RELATED OFFENSES AND DRUG DEPENDENCE CASES, ESPECIALLY AMONG JUVENILES. WITH REGARD TO DRUG DEPENDENCE, IMPROVED METHODS OF DETECTION AS WELL AS BETTER TREATMENT BY SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL, INSTEAD OF PENALIZATION BY IMPRISONMENT, ARE THE ONLY RATIONAL ANSWER TO THE EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS OF THIS TYPE OF CONDUCT. THE ECONOMIC PRESSURES CAUSING PROPERTY CRIMES (BURGLARIES AND ROBBERIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC LADDER AND WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES AT ITS TOP) MUST BE STUDIED IN DEPTH IN ORDER TO DEVISE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO CONTROL AND PREVENT ACTS WHICH PLACE A HEAVY FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL BURDEN ON ALL CITIZENS. NONETHELESS, ALL ACTS OF TERRORISM ARE EVIL AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, AND ALL FORMS OF COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE, INCLUDING ORGANIZED CRIME AND SO-CALLED 'POLITICAL' CRIMES, MUST BE MORE EFFECTIVELY PREVENTED AND CONTROLLED. HOWEER, THAT POLICE AND STATE-SANCTIONED VIOLENCE CAN BE JUSTIFIABLE AS NECESSARY COUNTERMEASURES IS A MISCONCEPTION. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)