Centre for
The Centre for in Madrid originated from the so-called Judicial School that has trained members of the Judiciary and the Public Prosecution Service since 1944. In 1994, the school separated the training of public prosecutors from that of judges and the Centre for Judicial began to operate as the Centre for of the Justice Administration. It also began to provide training for other Justice Administration staff. The resolution was then adopted for the creation of the Judicial School, which was to be located in Barcelona and opened in 1997. In 2003, today s Centre for assumed its own statute, which were adopted by Royal Decree 1276/2003 of 10 October and which constituted it as an autonomous body attached to the Ministry of Justice (the Secretary of State for Justice) with the main function of collaborating with the Ministry and the General Prosecutor Office for the selection, training and improvement of the members of the Public Prosecution Service; only with the Ministry for the Court Secretaries, Forensic Doctors and other members of staff working for the Justice Administration. Its function also includes the continuous training of the State Counsel. As an autonomous body, the Centre for has a differentiated legal personality, its own equity and budget and independence of management. Although its headquarters is based in Madrid, it works across Spain. 2
Initial Training The initial training of public prosecutors, court secretaries and forensic doctors constitutes the second phase of the selection process and consists of a theoretical-practical training course that is given in class at the Centre for and another practical period spent in courts or hospitals (the latter for forensic doctors). Training is eminently practical and designed to complement the theoretical knowledge of those who have passed the official exams. The methodology is based on the real study of a practical case in small groups. Various methodologies are applied, including simulations, communication workshops, roundtables, conferences and visits. The duration of this theoretical-practical phase varies according to each body. For example, public prosecutors have a training period of four months at the Centre for and another four months in tutored period of practice at public prosecution offices. Court secretaries spend three months at the Centre for and four in the courts. Forensic doctors have one month s theoretical training and a practicum that lasts six months. For other bodies of the Justice Administration, training periods are shorter. Continuous Training Continuous and specialised training for members of the Justice Administration is based on the annual plans that set down the activities programmed for the year. The plans are subdivided according to each corps: Public Prosecutors, Court Secretaries, Forensic Doctors and State Councils. The annual plan is also divided into three separate programmes: General Programme: courses organised and financed exclusively by the Centre for and given in Madrid or elsewhere. Territorial Collaboration Programme: courses organised and financed jointly with the autonomous communities. These courses are given in the territory of the corresponding autonomous community. Institutional Cooperation Programme: courses organised in collaboration with other bodies of the State Administration, the General Council of the Judiciary and other institutions, etc. Besides subjects that are strictly linked to law, the Centre for also gives training in areas that include foreign languages, computer tools and management skills. Online Training The incorporation of technology in training has focused on so-called online training, which improves the publication of content and offers the option of reaching a larger number of students. In recent years, the Centre for has incorporated a number of courses that cover a wide variety of subjects, i.e. foreign languages, office computing, international legal cooperation, economics and accounting. Said courses are given via a platform located at the Centre for. 3
Specialisation in Judicial Police The Centre for imparts the last part of the programme on Specia lisation in Judicial Police to the members of the Police Forces. This part of the programme lasts one week and consists of classes taught at the Centre for by public prosecutors, court secretaries and forensic doctors. International Activity One priority target of the training that is given is to increase the international capacity of the professionals attached to the Justice Administration through inter national cooperation in response to the demands of a modern-day society that is more global and competitive. This activity takes place within the EU Area of Justice, in other European and thirdparty countries and as part of the policy on cooperation for development in the Justice sector. In its statute, which were adopted by Royal Decree 1276/2003 of 10 October, the Centre for provides the possibility of maintaining training exchanges with students and professionals from similar institutions in other countries. The Centre for works to increase its institutional presence in the le gal or judicial training centre networks that are of geographical and sector interest for the cooperation strategy applied by the Ministry of Justice. 4
EUROPE European Judicial Training Network (EJTN): The Centre for belongs, together with the Judicial School, to the EJTN (a network that groups together the official European institutions responsi ble for training judges and public prosecutors). The participation of the Centre for in various working groups enables its involvement in the corresponding training projects and activities, with importance placed. Said activities include exchanges between public prosecutors from EU countries to improve practices between institutions and foster mutual trust between judicial authorities. Each one lasts two weeks and is financed entirely by the EJTN. ERA (Academy of European Law): The Centre for is part of this European institution and sits on its Governing Board in representation of the Ministry of Justice. The ERA is a training institution specialising in European Law and has the aim, experience and responsibility required to provide continuous training to the members of the judicial legal professions of Europe. 5
IBERO-AMERICA RECAMPI (Ibero-American Public Ministry Training Network) The Centre for sits on the Management Committee of this Ibero- American network, which is made up of the training centres of the various public ministries (public prosecution services). The Centre for uses the network to offer continuous training activities to the other countries in the network, more specifically involving their judges and prosecutors. AECID (Spanish International Cooperation Agency for Development) The Centre for participates in the PIFTE Programme (Ibero-American Specialised Technical Training Programme). This training activity has been designed to strengthen institutions through the specialised technical training of Ibero-American professionals, in this case, in the Justice sector. It also participates in the MASAR programme led by the AECID which aims to strengthening the democratization processes in the Arab World. Other areas Euro-Arab Network This is a recently created network designed to increase training activities for training centres and schools in the countries of the European Union and the League of Arab Nations. Owing to their geographical proximity, Morocco, Algeria and the Maghreb countries constitute another area of preference for training activities through specific collaboration projects and agreements. 6
ORGANISATION CHART AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SUPPORT UNIT N15 DIRECTION N30 DIRECTOR ADVISER FOR PROSECUTORS (*) ADVISER FOR COURT SECRETARIES (*) N30 ASSISTANT DEPUTY DIRECTOR HEAD OF STUDIES N15 N15 N30 GENERAL N29 ASSISTANT DEPUTY GENERAL N28 INITIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT N28 CONTINUOUS TRAINING DEPARTMENT N28 INTERNATIONAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT N28 ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATION AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT INITIAL 1 2 ONLINE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN AND LOGISTICS RESOURCES FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IT Nota (*): The regulation of these working places is established in the Law 13/1998 of demarcation judicial. They are not included in the list of working places of the CEJ. Centre for 7
Centre for Coordinates: 40.4518 N 3.7308 W Subway: Ciudad Universitaria (L6), Metropolitano (L6). Buses: U, G, F, 82 http://twitter.com/cejmjusticia @CEJMJUSTICIA http://www.cej-mjusticia.es/ Centre for Centre for Calle Juan del Rosal, 2 / 28071 Madrid Tel.: 914551670 / Fax: 915431870 infocej@cej-mjusticia.es / http://www.cej-mjusticia.es