BETWEEN 1964 AND 1975, JUVENILES ACCOUNTED FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF VIOLENT CRIME IN MEXICO, (ASSAULTS, MURDERS, AND RAPES). FOR THIS REASON, IT CANNOT BE ARGUED THAT ALL MINORS ARE INCAPABLE OF ANY LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY. JUVENILES SHOULD BE DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES (WHOSE TREATMENT SHOULD BE DIFFERENT): DELINQUENTS, WHO HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME; VIOLATORS, WHO HAVE COMMITTED SOME INFRACTION AGAIST ADMINISTRATIVE RULINGS; AND HOMELESS OR DISTURBED YOUTHS, WHO ARE NOT GUILTY OF ANY SPECIFIC OFFENSE. TREATMENT AND TYPE OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS SHOULD ALSO BE DETERMINED ACCORDING TO AGE IN THESE CATEGORIES: CHILDREN UP TO 6 YEARS-OF-AGE WITHOUT LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY, PRE-ADOLESCENTS UP TO 14 YEARS-OF-AGE WITH REDUCED RESPONSIBILITY, AND JUVENILES AGES 14-18. JUVENILES SHOULD ALSO BE ENTITLED TO DUE PROCESS AND ENJOY THE SAME CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AS ADULTS. JUVENILE COURTS SHOULD BE FULL-FLEDGED COURTS OF LAW, NOT SUBSTITUTES FOR PARENTAL AUTHORITY. CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES FOR JUVENILES SHOULD BE PREVENTION-ORIENTED, NOT REPRESSIVE, BE LOCATED AWAY FROM LARGE URBAN CENTERS AND NOT BE USED AS SHELTERS FOR HOMELESS AND DISTURBED CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT DELINQUENT. JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL MUST BE PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED, SINCE GOOD INTENTIONS ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SOLID CREDENTIALS. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)