Throughout history some behaviors have been qualified as criminal and societies have found different ways of punishing them. Still, crime is a current issue and states and international institutions have worked unsuccessfully trying to find and provide solutions. As of late, global society has brought the tension between development and poverty to a critical point and responses in general point to the segregation and discrimination of many people and absolute disdain for human rights. This seminar aims to analyze public policies that influence the treatment of prisoners, as well as prison safety and conditions with particular focus on Latin America and Argentina. The seminar also aims to analyze and to compare criminal justice systems around the world, studying the structures and the differences. Finally, the course aims to analyze the Argentine Criminal System Organization, with particular focus on the criminal procedure in Santa Fe Province.