Strengthening the capacity of the Attorney General’s Office to combat narcotics trafficking and organized crime (2010 - 2013)

FIU’s Center for the Administration of Justice (CAJ) is implementing the Case Tracking and Performance System for Costa Rican Narcotrafficking Prosecutors Project in Costa Rica, under contract with the U.S. State Department Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL). The total amount of the project is $2.5 million dollars and has been implemented since August 2010.

CAJ initiated the project conducting an institutional assessment to evaluate the requirements of the Prosecutor’s office. Next, the CAJ team designed, tested and implemented a case management information system that upgraded the prosecutorial capacity to manage narcotics and transnational crime cases. This resulted in greater prosecutorial effectiveness and efficiency, as well as strengthened the technical capacity of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to reorganize.

The project, staged in several phases, has also trained IT specialists and users of the case tracking system on its applications and maintenance. It has also trained prosecutors and other justice officials on key narcotrafficking areas (money laundering, drug trafficking, drug crimes under newly enacted anti-narcotics law, organized crimes, prosecutorial techniques in drug related and organized crimes). Currently the project is expanding the case tracking systems to have nation-wide coverage. Also, the project is supporting the AGO strategic planning and reorganization efforts and strengthening the organization’s ability to better process cases related to narcotics and organized crime. In addition, the project will also is assisting the Costa Rican Judiciary in its efforts to strengthen judicial training and prevent corruption. Among other activities, a training program on preventing and combating organized crime will be designed and implemented before the end of the project. FIU expects to finish implementing activities by December 31, 2013.

First Brief Report to INL 2010

Second First Brief Report to INL 2010

Third Brief Report to INL 2011

INL Fourth Quarterly Report April-June 2011

Fifth Quarterly Report July-September 2011

Quarterly Report October-December 2011

Quarterly Report January-March 2012