Quarterly Report: Justice Sector Strengthening Project (January 1 - March 31, 2015)

The project collaborated closely with various Government of El Salvador (GOES) counterparts, including the Executive Technical Unit of the Justice Sector Coordinator Commission, National Civilian Police, Supreme Court, Public Defender's Office, and Attorney General's Office, as well as civil society organizations (CSOs) and other counterparts. Strengthening of the Community Policing Model was a key focus area during this period. The project advanced in monitoring and assessing the model in the ten municipalities where it is currently involved. Additionally, a new victims' assistance center was implemented in the Public Defender's Office in Ahuachapán, and a women's shelter was inaugurated in Sensuntepeque. However, the selection of five new municipalities to implement the Community Policing Model was postponed due to the municipal elections, with the goal of ensuring commitment from the elected mayors. The project continued to support coordination efforts among the Supreme Court, National Civilian Police, Attorney General's Office, and CSOs by providing technical assistance and monitoring the six Working Groups implemented to date of the Specialized Institutional Units for Attention for Women in Situations of Violence (UNIMUJERs). The JSSP also helped monitor and evaluate activities in locations where the Community Policing Model has been implemented, in an effort to ensure program sustainability and identify best practices to be replicated in new communities. Technical assistance was provided to the Attorney General's Office Training School and the Judicial Training School by developing training modules and annual training programs. The Continuing Education Program sponsored by the Judicial Training School included three courses: Techniques for Writing Judgments, International Judicial Cooperation, and Communication, Treatment of Information, and the Criminal System. Twenty-two justices of the peace in the eastern zone participated in these trainings. The JSSP staff also provided technical assistance to the Juvenile Justice Office of the Supreme Court and the Salvadoran Institute for the Integrated Protection of Childhood and Adolescence (ISNA). This included developing training processes for magistrates, judges, attorneys, public defenders, and Supreme Court staff to strengthen their skills and achieve a better understanding of justice in the implementation of restorative practices. The Restorative Justice Inter-Sectorial Roundtable provided guidance on the development of alternative conflict resolution mechanisms and restorative justice. The project also supported the Supreme Court in developing a roadmap to systemize the processes for the Child and Juvenile Jurisdictions. Technical assistance was provided to support the efficient operation of Process Distribution Offices in ten jurisdictions of the Isidro Menéndez, Santa Ana, San Miguel, and Santa Tecla Judicial Centers. However, expansion of the Process Distribution Office to new judicial centers and the creation of additional Users' Attention Centers were delayed due to internal processes of the Supreme Court. The JSSP continued to provide technical assistance to institutional counterparts and CSOs to implement activities that improve transparency, reduce impunity, and improve citizen understanding and participation in justice sector reforms. An assessment of CSOs interested in the creation and/or strengthening of judicial observatories was carried out, identifying five CSOs and two universities with experience in judicial observatories and related activities. USAID approved a grant to the organization Asociación Déjame Ayudarte, Sendas para la Mujer (SENDAS) to strengthen the institution and provide psychological care and attention to victims who visit the Forensic Medicine Institute associated with the Attorney General's Office in Cojutepeque.