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The Justice Information Sharing (JIS) Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) solicitation has 2 categories listed; (1) Criminal Intelligence Online Training and Technical Assistance (28 CFR Part 23), and (2) RISS Technology Service Center (RTSC) and Administration Support. The Criminal Intelligence Systems Operating Polices 28 CFR Part 23 TTA Program provides an online training to help state and local law enforcement professionals understand the guidelines that govern the development and implementation of policies and systems that facilitate criminal intelligence sharing and in FY16 over 6,900 users took this online training. The program also provide technical assistance to agencies wanting to ensure their policy and procedures protect the privacies and civil liberties as identified in 28 CFR Part 23. The RISS Technology Service Center (RTSC) staff supports technical programs and projects that span the RISS enterprise and support the six RISS Centers nationwide. This includes the infrastructure and security of the RISS Secure Cloud (RISSNET) and database applications development. The tasks will be to continue to operate, maintain, and upgrade RISSNET, support RISS member connectivity and access to RISSNET, maintain and enhance the RISSNET Portal and RISSNET infrastructure, continue to operate and further enhance RISS applications, participate in national information sharing projects and working groups, work with other federal agencies and share technology, and ensure applicable databases adhere to 28 CFR Part 23 Guidelines.

INL is seeking applications from qualified non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other qualified organizations with expertise in improving the quality of justice in Mexico by ensuring that the Mexican citizenry have a reliable, trustworthy, capable, and transparent criminal justice system. Mexico's new criminal justice system (NCJS) is now operating at varying levels of effectiveness throughout Mexico. It is crucial to support the Government of Mexico's (GOM) efforts in strengthening security, continue progress, and the consolidation of an effective system of criminal justice.

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $10,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for one cooperative agreement to fund a technical assistance project in a minimum of five countries to strengthen the capacity of governments to address child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. The project will aim to achieve the following outcomes: (1) strengthened labor and/or criminal legal frameworks concerning child labor, forced labor, and/or human trafficking; (2) improved enforcement of the labor and/or criminal legal framework, specifically related to child labor, forced labor, and/or human trafficking; and (3) increased coordination among law enforcement and social protection entities to address child labor, forced labor, and/or human trafficking.

To advance the priority of gender equality, The Office of Criminal Justice Assistance and Partnership (INL/CAP) strives to integrate women and women?s perspectives into its criminal justice system assistance programs. Mentors and advisors deployed to INL missions are in a unique position to help INL advance its objectives with respect to integrating women and women?s perspectives. In particular, they may have opportunities to offer suggestions concerning the participation of women to host country counterparts. To help prepare them for this aspect of their work, INL/CAP seeks to incorporate into pre-deployment training a module that informs training participants about the importance of integrating women and women?s perspectives, and how they might help with this effort.

INL is part of the Department of State's multi-faceted response to transnational criminal activity. Dedicated to strengthening criminal justice systems, countering the flow of illegal narcotics, and minimizing transnational crime, INL plays a key role in leading the development and synchronization of U.S. international drug and crime assistance. INL's technical support is tailored to bolster capacities of partner countries through multilateral, regional, and country-specific programs.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is responsible for the development, supervision, coordination, and implementation of international narcotics control assistance activities and international criminal justice issues for the US Department of State (DOS). The Office of Africa and Middle East Programs (INL/AME) is the designated lead for capacity building with criminal justice sector institutions in the Middle East, in particular with Lebanon. The goal of this project is to increase the ISF's capability to administer a correctional system that is consistent with international standards through having a proper classification system, institutionalized SOP's and a corresponding curriculum with sufficient training that will improve the safety of corrections officers and inmates.

INL is part of the Department of State's multi-faceted response to transnational criminal activity. Dedicated to strengthening criminal justice systems, countering the flow of illegal narcotics, and minimizing transnational crime, INL plays a key role in leading the development and synchronization of U.S. international drug and crime assistance. INL's technical support is tailored to support partner countries through multilateral, regional, and country-specific programs and prevent victimization of vulnerable populations. To support further progress in Costa Rica, INL has allocated funds for a program to increase police, local governments and community security by creating a Capacity Enhancement Program on Domestic Violence prevention, increasing vulnerable populations' awareness, and victim's assistance in the 15 cantons in Costa Rica.

This award will support efforts in at least two of four target countries (select among: Argentina, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru) to identify priority substantive anti-corruption measures and assist in implementation of reform actions related to them. The substantive measures will be determined in reference to the international and regional standards to which these countries have agreed, and the recommendations of the peer review bodies associated with them. Several anti-corruption mechanisms and fora promote action on these standards by facilitating peer recommendations or encouraging country commitments. Exemplar mechanisms and fora include UNCAC and MESICIC (primary) and the Anti-Bribery Convention, Open Government Partnership, Summit of the Americas and related policy (secondary). Each of the target countries has engaged in at least one of these entities and has received recommendations or made commitments to address corruption in various ways. INL intends for this project to initiate a multi-stakeholder process in each country selected for this project to prioritize two to three peer review body recommendations addressed to - or political commitments made by -- the country. The project should then support the development of action plans and targeted follow-up action (i.e. technical assistance, advocacy, and coordination) to help governments implement the action plans. Suggested focus areas in which to develop priorities, action plans, and follow-up measures include judicial integrity/independence, criminalizing foreign bribery, public procurement, public sector ethics, and international legal cooperation. Supporting action in these areas would aid the criminal justice sector and civil society in making tangible steps to adopt laws, policies, or procedures that either prevent or combat corruption.

In 2014, the Bureau for African Affairs (AF) and INL agreed to assist CAR's transitional government in re-establishing the country's criminal justice system, which was devastated during the destabilizing violence. CAR is among AF's top foreign assistance priorities in sub-Saharan Africa, and INL assistance seeks to re-establish functioning law enforcement and criminal justice institutions, and expand those institution's capacity to protect, serve, and provide justice to all CAR citizens across sectarian-lines, while upholding human rights and increasing public trust. Pending funding availability and other required approvals, this project will seek to continue INL's efforts to build the capacity of CAR's judicial institutions, with an emphasis on addressing atrocities, war crimes, and conflict related crimes.

The 2017 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index Report indicated that "across Eastern and Southeast Europe, civil society organizations and independent media experienced challenges in their ability to monitor and criticize decision-makers." Moreover, perceived instances of selective justice in Moldova and widespread corruption are widely regarded as key impediments to substantive reform in the criminal justice system that also contribute to low public trust in justice sector institutions. An active civil society plays an important role in protecting fundamental rights by monitoring the local actions of law enforcement entities and justice sector institutions, which can contribute to productive communication and enhance public trust.

Countries in the East Asia and Pacific region (EAP) are increasingly focused on enhancing regional security. Transnational criminal organizations take advantage of porous borders and fragile rule of law to illegally traffic drugs, arms, people, and wildlife. While countries in EAP face a range of challenges in developing robust rule of law, commonalities provide the context for INL's regional rule of law programming. Interagency and international cooperation on cases remains limited. Corruption is pervasive in many countries in the region. Legal systems are overburdened, and professionals may not have the resources to address their caseloads fully. This project will pilot professional development opportunities for legal professionals in the first five years of their career. The project will focus on sustainable legal professional development for prosecutors, judges, and public defense attorneys involved in criminal cases in the proposed pilot country. In the second year of the project, the implementer will conduct an assessment of a proposed second country for expansion.

This project seeks to increase the availability and reliability of comprehensive national statistics, related to various aspects of organized criminality, justice sector efficacy, and citizen security, by regularly compiling and consolidating key statistics and creating mechanisms to centralize this data, so as to be easily accessible by Government of Costa Rica leadership, INL, and key international partners.

This award will support efforts in at two or three of five target countries (select among: Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Armenia, and Montenegro) to identify priority substantive anti-corruption measures and assist in implementation of related reform actions. The substantive measures will be determined in reference to the countries' commitments in the context of relevant international standards, and to the recommendations of the peer review bodies associated with those standards. Several anti-corruption mechanisms and fora promote action on these standards by facilitating peer reviews, resulting in recommendations for reform, or by generating country commitments. Exemplar mechanisms and fora include UNCAC and GRECO (primary) and the Anti-Bribery Convention, Istanbul Action Plan, Open Government Partnership, and related policy (secondary). Each of the target countries has engaged in at least one of these entities and has received recommendations or made commitments to address corruption in various ways. INL intends for this project to initiate a multi-stakeholder process in each country selected for this project to prioritize two to three peer review body recommendations addressed to - or political commitments made by -- the country. The project should then support the development of action plans and targeted follow-up action (i.e. technical assistance, advocacy, and coordination) to help governments implement the action plans. Suggested focus areas in which to develop priorities, action plans, and follow-up measures could include judicial integrity/independence, criminalizing and enforcing foreign bribery, transparency of party funding and electoral campaigns, law enforcement reforms, and public procurement fraud and corruption. Supporting action in these areas would aid the criminal justice sector and civil society in making tangible steps to adopt laws, policies, or procedures that either prevent or combat corruption.

This award will support efforts in at two or three of five target countries (select among: Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Armenia, and Montenegro) to identify priority substantive anti-corruption measures and assist in implementation of related reform actions. The substantive measures will be determined in reference to the countries' commitments in the context of relevant international standards, and to the recommendations of the peer review bodies associated with those standards. Several anti-corruption mechanisms and fora promote action on these standards by facilitating peer reviews, resulting in recommendations for reform, or by generating country commitments. Exemplar mechanisms and fora include UNCAC and GRECO (primary) and the Anti-Bribery Convention, Istanbul Action Plan, Open Government Partnership, and related policy (secondary). Each of the target countries has engaged in at least one of these entities and has received recommendations or made commitments to address corruption in various ways. INL intends for this project to initiate a multi-stakeholder process in each country selected for this project to prioritize two to three peer review body recommendations addressed to - or political commitments made by -- the country. The project should then support the development of action plans and targeted follow-up action (i.e. technical assistance, advocacy, and coordination) to help governments implement the action plans. Suggested focus areas in which to develop priorities, action plans, and follow-up measures could include judicial integrity/independence, criminalizing and enforcing foreign bribery, transparency of party funding and electoral campaigns, law enforcement reforms, and public procurement fraud and corruption. Supporting action in these areas would aid the criminal justice sector and civil society in making tangible steps to adopt laws, policies, or procedures that either prevent or combat corruption.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) advises the President, Secretary of State, other bureaus in the Department of State, and other departments and agencies within the U.S. Government on the development of policies and programs to strengthen the ability of criminal justice institutions to combat transnational organized crime. INL is operationalizing this policy goal in Guinea. Helping to build the architecture of democracy, INL's goal is for the Government of Guinea to provide citizen security in a manner that respects human rights and the rule of law. Supporting the Ministry of Justice's (MOJ) strategic reform agenda is a key component of our program.

Peru's criminal justice system faces significant challenges. Judicial processes are characterized by a lack of transparency, overload of cases, and lengthy delays. Justice sector institutions are hampered by limited resources and, according to public surveys, are broadly perceived to be corrupt. At the same time, access to justice is limited by an insufficient number of judges and court staff, case overload, cost of lawsuits, cultural and gender barriers, and fragmented service delivery. The United States Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, is seeking applications from qualified Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Educational Institutions and other qualified organizations for a Cooperative Agreement to implement a program entitled "Justice Sector Support Project (JSSP)."

The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to establish fully functional legal clinics in criminal law at two law schools in the country - one being part of Ss. Cyril and Methodius University which is a non-profit state university and one being part of Southeast European University which is a private-public not for profit entity. This will be an opportunity for law school students to obtain trial and case practice before they graduate and take the bar exam.

The State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) has been working with the Government of the Republic of Tunisia to enhance the capacity of Tunisia's criminal justice system since 2011. This includes efforts to improve the capacity of civilian law enforcement to provide citizen security; improve the capacity of the corrections system to provide safe, secure, and humane treatment of inmates; and improve the capacity of the justice sector to provide access to justice and maintain the rule of law throughout the country. The goal of INL's corrections reform project is to enhance the performance and capacity of Tunisia's corrections institutions. This includes the development of a professional and sustainable corrections system that provides humane, safe, and secure imprisonment.

The U.S. Embassy in Belmopan, Belize announces a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to strengthen citizen security by focusing on job creation and providing alternative activities and better education for youth at higher risk of gang affiliation and/or engaging in criminal activity. Contingent upon the availability of funds and quality of proposals, U.S. Embassy Belmopan intends to issue three to five awards in an amount not to exceed $900,000 in total funding. Each award will be for an amount between $100,000 and $400,000. Project periods should not exceed two years, and the anticipated start date for successful proposals is September 30, 2015. This funding will support U.S. Government objectives under the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) to target the underlying factors contributing to violence and crime in Belize. Project proposals should address at least one of the following project objectives: 1) Providing job creation opportunities for youth and marginalized communities as an alternative to crime and violence; 2) Providing youth and marginalized communities with productive alternative activities that increase education and leadership opportunities; 3) Improving the educational quality or curriculum for high school youth in Belize, especially those in underserved communities. Please view the full announcement under the "Related Documents" tab for more details.

This project will provide professional and technical development for defense legal professionals that provide criminal legal aid services in Bangladesh and help develop the organizational capacity of government legal aid committees to improve access to justice for indigent Bangladeshis. The project will provide legal training for defense lawyers to enhance the quality of legal aid services and engage with government legal aid committees to develop strategic initiatives to improve public outreach capabilities, planning, administrative capacity, and coordination among government facilities and NGOs. The project will support efforts to counter violent extremism in Bangladesh through improving access to justice and formal mechanisms to air grievances.