U.S. Government Law Enforcement Training Programs in the Americas

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1 U.S. Government Law Enforcement Training Programs in the Americas The United States Government provides training to law enforcement and judicial personnel globally. The U.S. Departments of State and Justice work closely on these matters. Through the State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), countries can request training and INL will help to find the appropriate U.S.-based agency to help meet the specific needs of the country. The U.S. Department of Justice, through various programs, provides a wide range of training to law enforcement and judicial officials internationally. The following is a list of the programs operated by the Department s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT), International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and United States Marshals Service (USMS). 1 A. OPDAT AND ICITAP OPDAT s mission is to assist prosecutors and judicial personnel in other countries develop and sustain effective criminal justice institutions. ICITAP works with foreign governments to develop professional and transparent law enforcement institutions that protect human rights, combat corruption, and reduce the threat of transnational crime and terrorism. Below is a list of programs operated by OPDAT and ICITAP in the Americas: Belize Anti-gang program The Department of Justice (DOJ) promotes a regional approach to combating the gang problem in Central America. This approach consists of four key parts: (i) strengthening or implementing vetted anti-gang units; (ii) expanding or implementing the CAFÉ fingerprint initiative and exchange (CAFÉ is a joint FBI/State Department initiative that allows Central American countries to share digital criminal fingerprint records with U.S. law enforcement to identify criminals who cross international borders); (iii) training and professional law enforcement exchanges; and (iv) supporting judicial and legal infrastructure for successful investigation and prosecution of gangs and criminal organizations. Brazil ICITAP has a two-year forensic laboratory development program in Brazil. The program s purpose is to move two Brazilian Federal Police laboratory sections (Drug Chemistry and DNA) toward International Organization of Standards (ISO) accreditation, thereby strengthening laboratory practices and the rule of law. 1 Training offered by the Department of Justice is funded by the United States Department of State and may be country specific. The programs described herein do not purport to be an exhaustive list of all law enforcement training offered by U.S. agencies. 1

2 Caribbean Basin Working together through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the United States and the Caribbean Community member nations are improving citizen safety throughout the Caribbean by working together to substantially reduce drug trafficking, increase public safety and security, and promote social justice. Eastern Caribbean ICITAP is implementing a three-year police professionalization program throughout the seven Eastern Caribbean island nations: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and Saint Vincent, and the Grenadines. In 2013, ICITAP conducted a regional assessment of each island police force, and based on the data collected, will work with regional officials to determine target areas. Dominican Republic ICITAP is working with the Dominican National Police (DNP) in the areas of police professionalism and organizational capacity. St. Kitts and Nevis OPDAT is working with St. Kitts and Nevis to create a violent crime task force to tackle gang and drug trafficking-related homicides. Assistance includes training, technical assistance, and mentoring. OPDAT is also working with prosecutors to enhance collaboration and effectiveness with police in the investigation of violent crimes. Jamaica OPDAT provides training and capacity building in the area of asset forfeiture prosecutions. Colombia Through DOJ s Justice Sector Reform Program (JSRP), ICITAP and OPDAT collaborate on many fronts and provide training and assistance in the following areas (within the context of criminal prosecutions in an accusatory system of justice): Financial Crimes Training in Colombia ICITAP conducts a Financial Crimes and Investigative Techniques Course for Colombian investigators and prosecutors, with particular focus on money-laundering and drug trafficking cases. Forensic Laboratory Development in Colombia ICITAP provides training on the modernization of forensic laboratories in keeping with the standards promulgated by the International Organization of Standards. 2

3 Human Identification Center in Colombia ICITAP has established a forensic Human Identification Center in Medellin to identify human remains. ICITAP provides training in the recovery of evidence from mass graves, crime scene processing, and other related areas. OPDAT provides training to prosecutors, judges, investigators, forensic experts, protection personnel and law school faculty, as well as training in specialized areas, such as human rights, witness protection, victim/witness assistance, and other related areas. El Salvador ICITAP and OPDAT assist prosecutors and investigators in the creation of task forces to combat crimes against public transit, commercial entities, and other sectors, to include: Anti-gang program The Department of Justice promotes a regional approach to combating the gang problem in Central America. This approach consists of four key parts: (i) strengthening or implementing vetted anti-gang units; (ii) expanding or implementing the CAFÉ fingerprint initiative and exchange (CAFÉ is a joint FBI/State Department initiative that allows Central American countries to share digital criminal fingerprint records with U.S. law enforcement to identify criminals who cross international borders); (iii) training and professional law enforcement exchanges; and (iv) supporting judicial and legal infrastructure for successful investigation and prosecution of gangs and criminal organizations. Guatemala and Honduras The Department of Justice is working in Guatemala and Honduras to address the growing threat of criminal gang activity. As in El Salvador, the Department promotes a regional approach to combating the gang problem in Central America. This approach consists of four key parts: (i) strengthening or implementing vetted anti-gang units; (ii) expanding or implementing the CAFÉ fingerprint initiative and exchange (CAFÉ is a joint FBI/State Department initiative that allows Central American countries to share digital criminal fingerprint records with U.S. law enforcement to identify criminals who cross international borders); (iii) training and professional law enforcement exchanges; and (iv) supporting judicial and legal infrastructure for successful investigation and prosecution of gangs and criminal organizations. Guatemala and Honduras will be incorporated into the regional strategy to combat transnational gangs. Mexico ICITAP is providing training and assistance in a variety of areas, to include: DNA analysis, document authentication, toxicology screening, crime scene processing, drug analysis, and firearms and latent print examinations. ICITAP also offers training in the establishment of accountability and professional standards for law enforcement personnel. 3

4 OPDAT provides technical assistance and training to prosecutors and investigators in the following areas: investigation of complex crimes (including gang-related violence and money-laundering); criminal procedure code reform, drafting of witness protection legislation, human trafficking prosecutions, intellectual property rights violations, and more. OPDAT conducts trial advocacy courses for prosecutors working in the accusatory system. OPDAT provided assistance and training in the creation of Amber Alert, a nation-wide alert system designed to locate abducted and missing children. B. FBI Training Programs The FBI conducts various training programs with partner countries in the Americas. These initiatives strengthen legal and police systems overseas, and build one-on-one relationships that are instrumental in helping the FBI and its international colleagues track down fugitives, share information, and turn back serious criminal and security threats in this global age. FBI training programs include: The Organization of America States (OAS) Tourism Security Program - The objective of the OAS Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) Tourism Security Program is to strengthen the capacity of both public and private sectors and build an alliance between the two in tourism security in order to prevent crime and address threats to the tourism industry. CICTE s efforts promote secure and sustainable tourist destinations that support the economy and prosperity of the OAS Member States. The FBI has supported OAS-CICTE by delivering a Tourism Security course in Costa Rica and a Passenger Interdiction course in Jamaica. The FBI is planning a Passenger Interdiction course in Ecuador. The Colombia Strategic Development Initiative From FY 2000 through FY 2011, the United States provided more than $8 billion for Plan Colombia and its follow-on programs. Through this program the United States provides aid to the Colombian government in support of its investigative work against narcotics production and terrorism. The FBI International Operations Division (IOD) has a significant role in this program. The FBI has provided a series of courses to Colombian law enforcement officers in methods of intelligence collection, case management, and overall investigative performance. IOD also supports the program s specific Anti-Kidnapping Initiative, which is designed to assist local law enforcement investigate and dismantle organized criminal groups, many of whom are involved in drug trafficking. International Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminars (LEEDS) These seminars include courses established for the FBI s foreign law enforcement partners with limited English fluency to develop or enhance their leadership, administrative, and investigative management skills. Bilateral Training Programs These programs directly support Legal Attaché offices requests for training for their foreign law enforcement partners in their areas of responsibilities at a U.S. venue. Examples include art crimes workshops; a course on 4

5 investigative initiatives at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia; basic cyber crime investigations course in cooperation with Interpol; and Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) Tactical Training Hostage Negotiation training. International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEAs) These academies teach cuttingedge leadership and investigative techniques to international police managers through an intensive program similar to the FBI National Academy, and also provide specialized classes on everything from corruption to cyber crime. The FBI provides instructors to the academy in San Salvador, El Salvador. C. DEA Training Programs The DEA conducts law enforcement training in the Americas through its International Training Section (TRI). TRI is recognized as the world pioneer in international training and serves as the model for a variety of international law enforcement training efforts. DEA s role has grown to include that of international consultant to law enforcement agencies, as well as foreign governments seeking to develop quality narcotics law enforcement programs, organizational infrastructures, and judicial reforms. The programs listed below are among the programs offered by the DEA: International Law Enforcement Academy Trainings The ILEA in San Salvador, El Salvador, was selected in 2005 as the permanent venue for ILEA Latin America, and the first six-week Pilot training program, titled the Law Enforcement Management Development Program was conducted at the Academia Nacional De Seguridad Publica (ANSP) academy. DEA will serve as the Deputy Director for ILEA Latin America, which will also hold some specialized training courses at an alternate training venue in Lima, Peru. Sensitive Investigative Unit (SIU) Training SIU personnel travel to the DEA Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia, to attend a five-week SIU specialized training program. Beyond the initial five-week specialized training program, TRI provides in-service training to select members of the SIUs in an effort to encourage them to develop their agencies institutional training and management techniques. Basic Drug Enforcement Seminar The Basic Drug Enforcement Seminar provides two weeks of basic training in traditional investigative techniques focusing on drug trafficking in the region. This training presents skills necessary to plan, organize, and operate in the drug enforcement arena and ensures that participants are fully aware of DEA's mission and how it is implemented. Another goal of the seminar is to establish and promote professional and personal relationships between the participants, which will further enhance cooperation and assistance in enforcement operations. Advanced Drug Enforcement Seminar The primary goal of the Advanced Drug Enforcement Seminar is to provide advanced training in specialized investigative techniques by focusing on drug trafficking in the region and the management principles 5

6 of these techniques. This training also fosters professional relationships between the respective law enforcement agencies by enhancing cooperation between DEA and its law enforcement counterparts. Advanced Drug Enforcement Seminars are two weeks in length. Asset Forfeiture Training Program The International Asset Forfeiture Training Program goal is to provide a forum for the U.S. and host countries to exchange information on each country s forfeiture laws, practices, and policies, as well as to promote future cooperation and assistance between the U.S. and foreign countries to identify and seize illegal proceeds. The International Asset Forfeiture Training Program objectives are to: instruct high-ranking police officials, prosecutors, policy makers, and judges on U.S. Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering laws; instruct the participants on how to develop an asset forfeiture and money laundering group, how to initiate cases and continue the investigation; instruct participants in how to gather information in conducting financial investigations through case examples. Advance courses include topics such as: Money Laundering through Internet Banking and Terrorist Financing. Specialized Training DEA also conducts one- and two-week specialized training seminars designed to meet the specific needs of a particular country. Where appropriate, specialized instructors augment permanent mobile training team staff for particular curricula. D. United States Marshals Service Training Programs The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) is recognized as a world leader in providing justice sector security training and capacity building. The Justice Sector Security program (JSS) is a comprehensive approach to enhancing the overall security operations in the criminal justice system and includes the protection of police, prosecutors, witnesses, and judicial personnel. JSS includes not only the physical protection of police, prosecutors, and judicial facilities, but also expands to include how victims, witnesses, and defendants (custodial and non-custodial) are presented and protected in court, long term witness protection operations, enforcement of judicial orders (including the apprehension of fugitives and asset seizure), threat investigation and mitigation, and prisoner custody and transportation. A comprehensive JSS program provides a basis for successful prosecutions to thrive, promotes information sharing, and combats the destructive influence of corruption. The USMS has conducted the following programs as part of its training portfolio in the region: Brazil The Judicial Security Division (JSD) provided Brazilian counterparts with an overview of the USMS and judicial security training programs available, with a special emphasis on the fugitive apprehension program. 6

7 Colombia The USMS Judicial Security Division (JSD) and the Witness Security Division (WSD) work together to provide court security and protective operations training, including witness protection operations designed to address the growing demand of witnesses in the new Colombian accusatory system. The USMS-sponsored training courses are provided to members of the Colombian National Police, the Cuerpo Tecnico de Investigación (CTI), the Departamento de Seguridad (DAS), and the Ministry of Defense. Mexico The JSS Program supports four major focus areas: Witness protection; judicial and court order enforcement police; judicial and court security; and prisoner operations. Panama The International Operations Division (IOD)/ International Investigations Branch (IIB) has provided training in the arrest, restraint, and transportation of prisoners to officers from the Policia Nacional de Panama, Servicio Nacional de Migracion, and the Direccion General de Sistema Penitentiario. 7