Taken by police on May 15, Carlos Ramírez waits in a military jail while the government looks for evidence against him. His case is not uncommon.

"Eliminating corruption altogether and jailing 100 percent of the perpetrators is almost impossible, but jailing one or two big names can also go a long way,” pointed out AS/COA’s Brian Winter.

It's time for the government to ask for international assistance to reinforce the state’s capacity to investigate and prosecute grave crimes.

As the country addresses decades of violence, corporate officials in companies like Chiquita must be held accountable as well.

“Maduro does not have the flexibility that Chavez, as the author of the revolution, had to change when things get too complicated," says AS/COA's Eric Farnsworth as protests sweep Venezuela.

A historic corruption probe revealed a system so broken it must be overhauled.

El imperio de la ley es esencial en un estado libre- pero en gran parte de la región, los que hacen funcionar al sistema judicial viven bajo amenazas.