The Hemispheric Network for Legal Cooperation in Criminal

Matters of the OAS/REMJA"CRIMINAL MATTERS NETWORK"

The REMJA Process:

Principal political and technical hemispheric forum for addressing justice issues and inter-American legal cooperation on mainly criminal matters.

Main developments relating to mutual assistance and extradition:

Working Group of the REMJA on Legal Cooperation in Criminal Matters

The Criminal Matters Network.

Background

Is a set of electronic tools to facilitate and increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and timeliness of

cooperation and the exchange of information between central authorities and other government

experts responsible for mutual assistance in criminal matters and extradition in the American states.

The Criminal Matters Network

San José

QuebecPort of Spain

OASSanto

Domingo Washington Brasilia Quito

REMJA III: establishment of the Network

Third Summit of the Americas: reiterate establishing the NetworkREMJA IV: development of the private website

REMJA V: adoption of the Criminal Matters Network

REMJA VI and VII: consolidation of the Network on Criminal MattersREMJA VIII and IX: the Criminal Matters Network

Progress

Composition:

PublicPublicComponentComponent

- Free virtual legal

library

- Legal information on

mutual assistance and

extradition in the

member states (more

than 1,000

documents).

- Dictionary and

Glossary of legal

Terms.

1111

www.oas.org/juridico/mlawww.oas.org/juridico/mla

PrivatePrivateComponentComponent

- Website with information of exclusive interest to central authorities in charge of mutual legal assistance and extradition.

Directory of authorities and national points of contact.

2222

www.oas.org/juridico/mla/restrictedwww.oas.org/juridico/mla/restricted

SecureSecureComponentComponent

Communication tool

with a focus on

collaborative and

secure work.

Directory of contacts.

On-line training.

3333

A set of software tools that facilitates information exchange through secure

communication applications, such as instantaneous e-mail, workspaces, virtual

meetings, and document exchange among geographically dispersed groups through

public networks

Facilitates secure communications.

Information is 100% confidential.

No member state controls the application.

The GS/OAS does not have access to the information

transmitted.

Secure Component: Some considerations...

Antigua and BarbudaArgentinaBelizeBoliviaBrazilCanadaChileColombiaCosta RicaDominicaEcuadorEl SalvadorUnited StatesGrenada Guatemala

Secure Component: Participation and institutionalization

GuyanaHaiti HondurasJamaicaMexicoNicaraguaPanamaParaguayPeruDominican RepublicSaint Kitts and NevisSurinameTrinidad and TobagoUruguayVenezuela

41 memorandums of understanding18 Ministries of Justice15 Attorney General's Offices (Ministerios Públicos)5 Ministries of Foreign Affairs3 Supreme Courts of Justice:

France

Member statesMember states Other statesOther states

Institutionalization Institutionalization

More than 100 users More than 100 users in 41 institutions in in 41 institutions in

32 states connected 32 states connected

BRAZIL: "On numerous occasions the Central Authority in Brazil requested information from the points of contact in the Groove System of other OAS member states regarding the competent

authorities for addressing certain requests or regarding the laws of those countries. In the vast majority of cases, the system proved to be efficient for such purposes. The Central Authority in Brazil

uses the Groove contacts as the main source of information regarding the points of contact of the central authorities in other

OAS member states."

ARGENTINA: "Speed of communication and certainty that the ideas expressed will remain confidential."

User experiences

MEXICO: “Use of the System has greatly expedited the dispatch and monitoring of requests for legal assistance from the coordinating

authorities of other countries and it has become an extremely useful tool for exchanging information."

COSTA RICA: “I should not fail to mention that use of "Groove" mail by the Public Prosecutors in OATRI [the Technical Advice and

International Relations Office of the Attorney General's office] has become an essential tool for reducing the time it takes to respond in

transnational crime cases.

PANAMA: “Communication by e-mail has greatly simplified the procedure for tracking applications for judicial assistance. Thanks to this system, we have been able to work effectively with Costa Rica,

Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Argentina, and Jamaica.”

SecureSecureVideoconferenceVideoconference

- Secure Secure videoconference videoconference system over the system over the Internet similar to Internet similar to the secure the secure communication communication system used by the system used by the Network.Network.

4444Secure VideoconferenceSecure Videoconference

- A secure tool for

exchanging audio and

video in real time over

the Internet.

4444

Internet

Security and administration features similar to those of the

secure component.

All that is required: Internet connection, microphone, and

webcam.

Easy to use.

Integrated with existing platform.

States that already have the system in place:

Secure videoconferences: Some considerations...

In short

PublicPublicComponentComponent- Free virtual legal library - Legal information on mutual assistance and extradition in the member states (more than 1,000 documents).- Dictionary and Glossary of legal Terms.

1111 PrivatePrivateComponentComponent- Website with information of exclusive interest to central authorities in charge of mutual legal assistance and extradition.Directory of authorities and national points of contact.

2222 SecureSecureComponentComponent

Communication tool

with a focus on

collaborative and

secure work.

Directory of

contacts.

On-line training.

3333

- Secure Secure videoconference videoconference system over the system over the Internet similar to Internet similar to the secure the secure communication communication system used by the system used by the Network.Network.

VideoconferenceVideoconference

- A secure tool for

exchanging audio and

video in real time over

the Internet.

4444

Criminal Matters NetworkAn effective, constantly evolving tool for cooperation, incorporating state-of-the-art technology…

Technological updating of the public and private components

platform.

Smart searches of multilateral and bilateral treaties on

international legal cooperation.

Virtual directories of central authorities and points of contact.

New tools made available to address the operational needs of the

network.

The Hemispheric Network for Legal Cooperation in Criminal

Matters of the OAS/REMJA"CRIMINAL MATTERS NETWORK"