The Peasant Patrols of Chota and San Marcos: Analysis of Patrol Justice Practices
The study presented here describes the role played by communal actors — such as the rondas campesinas — in local contexts and relationships, as in Chota and San Marcos, where the majority of the population, especially rural inhabitants, cannot find effective legal protection from the State and its judicial institutions to address their demands and protect their rights. The text analyzes the justice practices of these actors, the types of conflicts and problems they resolve, the characteristics of this so-called "peasant justice," the substantive law they develop, who participates, what significance this justice holds, and its contribution to the development of communities. It also analyzes their interactions with the operators of the State Justice System and with other local actors with whom they engage to guarantee levels of security and governance in their territories.