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During the last years the juvenile delinquency has increased significantly in Mexico. The mexican constitution was modified in 2005 to introduce an integral justice system, which accounts for adolescents as well. In here the guiding principle is the best interest for the child and it´s integral protection, which additionally requires that the fundamental rights and the ones associated to the process are granted. The administrative system changed to a judiciary system, in which is taken into account the following: in a first and second instance a court is specialized in minors, the procurator is specialized in minors, the system of defense is for minors and the centers of counteraction is for minors. Likewise, alternative means of the justice system as mediation, conciliation and restorative justice program are considered. In the district of Sonora (a province in the north-east of Mexico) the restorative justice program with the modality of socio-educational guidance, was applied. Another administrative program is the pro-social thinking program. The two programs were evaluated and the results showed a significant reduction of recidivism. The adolescents, which participated in the program showed a recidivism of 8% in comparison to 30% of the juvenil delinquents, which did not attend to no program. This shows us, that both programs, the restorative justice program and the pro-social thinking program, are effective in reducing recidvism. Nevertheless, these efforts has been implemented isolated, and there is a lack of promotion on national level. On the other hand, although the leading principle of the reforms of the mexican constitution is the best interest of minors and the imprisonment is seen as the last resource, this has led to more severe penalties for minors, which break the law. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)
