News
Revamped Criminal Justice System Good News to Victims, Defendants and Courts
Fernando, a 24-year-old college student and resident of Veraguas Province in Panama, acted impulsively after a night of drinking. An unattended motorcycle caught his attention, and without thinking, he decided to take the vehicle for a weekend of fun. Fernando’s plan ended abruptly when police officers stopped him for a routine traffic violation the next day. Read more »»
Panamanian Journalists Trained on Legal Reform
In February, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) trained journalists on Panama’s ongoing implementation of an orality-based, adversarial legal system. The day-long workshop, held in Panama City, provided 31 journalists with the necessary knowledge to report accurately on the country’s transition to this system and with an improved understanding of their role—and of the roles of various justice sector actors—under the system. Read more »»
Interview: Panamanian Police Officers Share How ABA ROLI Has Improved Their Work
The ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s (ABA ROLI’s) Panama program assists local institutions, including the National Police, in protecting human rights and guaranteeing due process under the country’s new oral, adversarial criminal justice system. Enforcement Affairs. Read more »»
Programs
Developing Police Training and Manual
The ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) is developing a comprehensive training for police trainers and producing a culture of lawfulness manual. The training will boost the police’s capacity, with the manual serving as a guide on criminal procedure, due process, transparency and human rights protection.
The training examines the roles of both the police and civil society in promoting culture of lawfulness and familiarizes participants with the Panamanian police code of conduct, national legislation, the Inter-American system and the United Nations Law Enforcement Code of Conduct. A key component of the training demonstrates the relationship between Panama’s new accusatorial system—with its principles of transparency, evidentiary procedure and oral, adversarial trials—and the promotion of a culture of lawfulness.
The manual provides step-by-step instruction for crime scene protection, highlighting the importance of evidence preservation, victim and witness assistance, and chain of custody. It provides contextual references to the criminal procedural code and best practices in promoting culture of lawfulness.
To support the transition to an accusatorial system, ABA ROLI is also working with local counterparts to develop a judicial bench book, which covers procedures, roles and responsibilities under the accusatorial system; theory of the case; investigative procedures; use of evidence and evidentiary procedures; opening statements, closing arguments, and direct and cross-examinations. The bench book was developed by Panamanian judges familiar with accusatorial principles and international experts with experience in accusatorial systems.
Calle 43 Bella Vista
Edificio Marina Park 26ª
For more information about ABA ROLI's programs in Panama, please contact Tom Hare at, <haret@staff.abanet.org>.
Background
Panamanian confidence in security institutions has declined dramatically in recent years. In response to this decline, the administration of President Martín Torrijos has undertaken a series of reforms that aim to improve security and to enhance the credibility of the country’s justice institutions. The reforms include new criminal and criminal procedure codes, and a restructuring of the police force to include a Judicial Investigation Bureau. Among other changes, the criminal procedure code establishes an accusatorial criminal justice system mandated for full implementation by 2012.
Despite these reforms, challenges remain. Limited cooperation between the Judicial Investigation Bureau and the National Police constrains efficiency. Both novice and veteran justice operators need to be trained in the functions of the accusatorial system. Therefore, training of judges, lawyers, prosecutors and police will be critical to the success of these reforms.
The ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) Latin America and Caribbean Division will work with the National Police to revise and update their training curriculum based on the recent reforms, and to further professionalize and certify police academy trainers.
