Country Information – Bolivia
Languages
Information about the languages spoken in Bolivia can be found here.
Type of Legal System
This article contains a detailed summary of Bolivia’s legal structure.
Australian Government’s Presence
Information about the Australian Government’s presence in Bolivia can be found on the DFAT website.
Key Legal Issues for Australians
The key legal issues for Australians in Bolivia include:
Drink driving offences (scroll to tab marked Laws)
Drug offences (scroll to heading marked Police)
The removal of items considered to be national treasure
What is the process like from arrest through to sentencing?
The Information for British Nationals Imprisoned in Bolivia produced by the British Embassy in La Paz provides a thorough overview of the Bolivian judicial process.
Human rights situation
The following reports raise several issues in relation to the Bolivian criminal justice system, including harsh prisoner conditions (including overcrowding and lawlessness), arbitrary arrest, official corruption, lack of government transparency, a backlog of cases in the courts and discrimination and violence against women. Please read the reports themselves for more detailed information.
Amnesty International, 2013 Report on Bolivia
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Bolivia