NCJ Number
198925
Date Published
August 2002
Length
86 pages
Annotation
This is a report on a conference entitled, "Police Reform and the International Community: From Peace Processes to Democratic Governance," held in Washington, DC, on November 16, 2001, for the purpose of examining issues in police reform in the transition to democratic governance in Latin American countries.
Abstract
This report summarizes the four panel presentations, the luncheon keynote speaker's address, and the conclusions drawn from the day's discussions. Presentations at the conference affirmed that a conceptual framework of "democratic policing" is emerging, as an international consensus on the parameters for democratic policing has been forged. Still, panels emphasized that there is no universal model of democratic policing that can be transferred from country to country. Political, institutional, and situational realities unique to various countries will always influence the nature and speed of democratic policing reforms in a given country and/or jurisdiction. Conference discussions also highlighted the waste and confusion created by the lack of donor (outside technical assistance providers) coordination and the presence of trainers and police experts from different countries with varying styles of operation. A number of conference participants emphasized the importance of input from the countries receiving technical assistance regarding the model of policing they wish to adopt. Conference speakers noted that local ownership of police reform is weak when it is externally imposed. Progress in this area was noted in conference presentations and discussions, as donors have begun to appreciate the need to develop local support for specific policing reforms. The need for both short-term and long-term strategies in policing reforms was also noted by conference participants. 18 police publications available at the Washington Office on Latin America and appended conference agenda and a list of speakers and their biographies