Strengthening Ecuadorian Justice Project Final Report June 2010 – January 2014

(EWMI) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from June 2010 to January 2014. The project aimed to improve the functioning of Ecuador's criminal justice system, increase access to justice for vulnerable groups, and promote citizen participation in justice reform. Improvements to the Criminal Justice System were a key focus of the project. EWMI supported the increased use of Special Proceedings and Alternative Procedures in the early stages of the criminal procedures in Ecuadorian courts. These techniques can result in a faster resolution of cases, providing a timely and effective response to the victim, decreasing pre-trial detention, and creating an environment for the consensual resolution of minor cases. To standardize and encourage the use of Alternative Procedures and Special Proceedings, EWMI developed and implemented two public policies. One policy obligated judicial officers to apply Alternative Procedures and Special Proceedings in cases of low-penalty crimes, while the other defined the Flagrancia Unit as a forum for resolving cases of low complexity. The courts where EWMI worked demonstrated improved results. In the Flagrancia Unit of Quito, the number of cases resolved through these mechanisms increased from 16 in November 2010 to 87 cases in July 2011. Case resolution time dropped from almost one year (305 days) to a single day when Abbreviated Proceedings were applied. In the Quito Garantías courts, case resolution time was reduced from an average of 73 days to 39 days when Alternative Procedures were used. In the Flagrancia Unit of Guayaquil, 88% of the cases were resolved through Abbreviated Proceedings in an average of 204 days. Improved Access to Justice by Vulnerable Groups was another key objective of the project. EWMI worked to improve the quality of legal services and increase access to justice by vulnerable groups by increasing the capacity of the Public Defenders' Office (PDO) and legal aid clinics. The PDO improved its case management system, and EWMI developed recommendations for the improved strategic planning and management of the Defender's Office. Additionally, EWMI trained numerous defense attorneys on Alternative Procedures and Special Proceedings and strengthened legal aid clinics. Strengthened Citizen Participation in Justice Reform was also a key component of the project. EWMI supported and promoted the participation of civil society in judicial reform by improving media coverage of the justice sector, supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) representing vulnerable groups, and providing support to seven grantees to implement projects related to legal matters. EWMI also developed a legal services management model that incorporated policies that improve services, such as introducing a rights and gender approach to the analysis of cases, improving case management, and improving the quality of care provided to clients.