THE PROBLEMATIC NATURE OF THE JUDICIAL FUNCTION IS EXPRESSED IN THE QUESTION OF LIBERTY VERSUS AUTHORITY. IN DESCRIBING THE STRUCTURE OF THE PANAMANIAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM, A SHORT SECTION COVERS THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, AN ORGANISM TOTALY INDEPENDENT FROM ALL THE OTHER POWERS OF THE STATE, WITH AUTHORITY VESTED IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HIMSELF. SUBSEQUENT PARAGRAPHS DESCRIBE HOW JUSTICE RUNS ITS COURSE IN PANAMA AND THE STAGES AND PACE OF COURT PROCEEDINGS, AS WELL AS THE DESIGNATIONS AND FUNCTIONS OF VARIOUS MAGISTRATES. THE EXPERIENCE OF SOME FOREIGN COUNTRIES WITH CRIME CONTROL PROGRAMS ARE MENTIONED, AS ARE SUGGESTIONS FOR JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION REFORMS IN PANAMA, FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES, AND REMEDIES TO THE SLOW PACE OF PANAMANIAN JUSTICE. AS A WAY OF OFFSETTING THE LIMITATIONS IN MANPOWER, OFFICE SPACE, AND EQUIPMENT, AND AS WELL AS IN OTHER IMPLEMENTS NEEDED FOR THE EFFICIENT DAILY OPERATION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THIS STUDY MENTIONS THE EXPERIENCE OF COSTA RICA, WHERE THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM ENJOYS ECONOMIC AUTONOMY. THE FINAL SECTIONS DEAL WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR REFORMS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE TO ITS STATED OBJECTIVE OF SOCIAL REINTEGRATION OF CONVICTED OFFENDERS (E.G., SEGREGATION OF FIRST OFFENDERS FROM RECIDIVISTS, ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION). A LIST OF SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE PANAMANIAN CRIMINAL AND PENAL CODES IS GIVEN IN CONCLUSION. --IN SPANISH.