Central America

Leer "Nuestro trabajo en Centro América" en Español

Voices of Justice: An interview with Ms. Gloria Porras,
Secretary General, Ministerio Público, Guatemala

Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador

JES is leading a four- year multi-country criminal justice system strengthening program that aims to strengthen the Rule of Law in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and end impunity. This is part of a cohesive program taking concrete steps to build effective justice systems in different regions of the world. This program addresses the need for justice systems to respond to serious violent crimes in the northern triangle of Central America. The program uses a systemic approach by offering training to all justice system partners including police, prosecutors, and judges.  It includes training and policy and procedural reform in crime scene examination, investigation, major case management and investigation, and oral trial techniques. This is a CIDA Funded Project.

JES has positioned itself as a key player in supporting the Central American justice sector in Special Methods of Investigation, which includes eight special methods of investigation such as forensic video analysis, criminal intelligence analysis and wiretap techniques. JES is enhancing the capacity of  law enforcement agencies in the use of special investigative techniques in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The goal  is to create a cumulative process ensuring that the expertise acquired in each each Special Investigative Method (SMI) leads to the creation of specialized units with properly trained personnel and is designed  to ensure that these special methods are integrated into the justice system in each country. This is a DFAIT Funded Project.

Guatemala:

Since 2009, JES has supported the Public Prosecutor’s Office to develop a Major case management model in the state of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. This model focuses on the training of prosecutors, investigators and crime scene specialists in their areas of specialization. JES will continue  to further support the development and implementation of a model of prosecutor-police collaboration for strengthened capacities in criminal investigation, in the department of Quetzlatenango, and in the homicide unit of Guatemala City.  This project is implemented in coordination with the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of the Interior, together with the National Commission for Police Reform, and is paving the way for similar, adapted experiences throughout the country and in the region.  This is a DFAIT Funded Project.