Foreign Assistance: U.S. Rule of Law Assistance to Five Latin American Countries

摘要

Based on our review of program documentation and evaluations, interviews with U.S. and host country officials and nongovernmental interest groups, and selected site visits, we determined that U.S. rule of law assistance has helped these countries undertake legal and institutional judicial reforms, improve the capabilities of the police and other law enforcement institutions, and increase citizen access to the justice system. For example, with USAIDs assistance, Colombia, El Salvador, and Guatemala revised criminal codes and have trained judges, prosecutors, and other justice officials in how to implement them; the U.S. Department of Justice helped police forces make the transition from military to civilian control in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama (but not Colombia) and has provided assistance to law enforcement institutions in all countries in administration, investigations, forensics, and related matters; and USAID helped create local justice centers in Colombia and Guatemala where citizens could arbitrate disputes and obtain legal advice; based on the popularity of pilot projects in these two countries, the governments are establishing centers in other locations. The five countries we visited are in various stages of reforming their criminal justice systems, but reforms in all of them have been affected by a number of challenges and constraints. These include institutional weaknesses, limited resources, lingering resistance to reforms, corruption, and widespread crime. Host government officials and legal experts noted that continued assistance from the international communityparticularly the United Statesis needed to help encourage host governments to devote the necessary resources to enact, implement, and maintain justice reforms. They also emphasized that lasting reform of criminal justice systems is a long-term effort that requires a sustained host government commitment.