NCJ Number
141833
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 62 Issue: 4 Dated: (April 1993) Pages: 6-11
Date Published
1993
Length
6 pages
Annotation
In 1986, Congress established the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) to enhance the professional capabilities of Latin American and Caribbean law enforcement agencies to carry out investigative and forensic tasks, to assist the development of academic instruction for law enforcement personnel, and to improve the administrative and management abilities of law enforcement agencies.
Abstract
ICITAP also provides special assistance in Panama, whose criminal justice system has required almost complete rebuilding due to recent political turmoil, and in Colombia, to enhance anti-narcotics efforts in that country. Since its inception, ICITAP has provided about 20,000 student-weeks of training to 10,000 law enforcement officers abroad. The course offerings cover investigative techniques, general criminal investigations, violent personal crimes, and police management. Staffing for ICITAP has come from the FBI, Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Secret Service. ICITAP reflects a synthesis of the evolution that has taken place in American law enforcement in terms of technology, management practices, training, techniques, organization, and policies and procedures. The program has also had to overcome numerous obstacles in assisting Latin American police officers: low educational levels, meager salaries, widespread corruption, and inadequate facilities. ICITAP administrators hope to have an impact in improving treatment of witnesses and suspects, establishing training and assistance programs, increasing investigative skills, and limiting the indiscriminate use of force and authority in Latin American police agencies.