Virtual Course: Improving the management of reports and prosecutorial and police investigation in America

This virtual course was developed in the context of the project “Combating impunity by strengthening sequences of measures in criminal prosecution,” which JSCA conducted in collaboration with the German cooperation agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The course is financed and promoted by the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Relations.

It offers tools for strengthening criminal prosecutor of gender-related crimes that occur within intimate relationships (such as domestic violence) in response to the increase of this phenomenon in the region during the public health crisis. The target audience of this course is police and public prosecutor’s office officials from Latin America.

Its goal is to apply best practices identified in Latin American countries in order to improve criminal prosecution, particularly that of cases of gender-based violence.
The course is asynchronous and consists of four modules. It includes audiovisual contents and complementary readings for each module. Participants will find a practical activity that will be assessed by a JSCA instructor in order to provide feedback on course assessments and discussion fora at the end of each module.

Participants must earn a score of at least 70% to pass the virtual course. All of the final assessments will be averaged.

In order to create spaces for exchanging opinions and experiences, participants will have access to a discussion forum for each module, which they must participate in based on the course calendar.
The course consists of four modules.
  • Module 1: Protocols for receiving complaints from victims of gender-based violence and evaluating protective measures during the investigation.
  • Module 2: Evaluating the procedural risks that require protective measures for victims.
  • Module 3: The use of alternative outcomes and abbreviated criminal proceedings.
  • Module 4: Applying case theory in the investigation of gender-based violence.

The course will be offered three times during the 2021-2022 academic year according to the following calendar.

Dates

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Start

August 2, 2021

October 4, 2021

January 3, 2022

End

October 1, 2021

December 3, 2021

March 3, 2022

Each module will be available for two weeks. One week at the end of the last module will be set aside for review and assessment of the activities completed.
A total of 6 hours will be spent on each module.
The course calendar for each class will be as follows:

Module

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Module 1

August 2-15

October 4-17

January 3-16

Module 2

August 16-29

October 18-31

January 17-30

Module 3

August 30-September 12

November 1-14

January 31-February 13

Module 4

September 13-26

November 15-28

February 14-27

Grading Period

September 27-30

November 29-December 3

February 28-March 4

A maximum of 50 participants may register for each class. The application and selection process are described below:

In order to participate, each person must complete the application form that will be published for each class. Once registration is closed, JSCA will select 50 participants based on the criteria agreed upon in advance with GIZ. These criteria are:

  • Gender: A gender balance will be maintained. If there are not enough applicants from a given gender, JSCA will give any open spots to applicants who meet the other criteria.
  • Institution: Based on course objectives, we will focus on allowing members of public prosecutor’s offices, attorney general’s offices, police agencies and judiciaries to enroll.

If more applicants meet the selection criteria than there are spaces available, participants will be selected in order of registration.
The registration process will follow the calendar outlined below:

Application Process

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Applications Accepted

June 22-July 18

June 22-September 19

June 22-December 19

Selection Process

July 19-30

September 20-30

December 20-31

The course is offered at no cost to the participant. All selected participants will have access to all course contents and activities.

However, if the participant wishes to receive a certificate indicating that they have passed the course, they must pay US$50. The participant will only receive the certificate if they pass the course.

Participants must indicate whether or not they wish to receive a certificate when they register for the course. If they opt for the paid mode, the payment will be requested once the course is complete. Individuals who choose the free option will also have the option to pay to obtain the certificate at the end of the course.

Those interested in participating in the course should send their background information in the form available at the following link, in order to be considered in the selection process. In your application you must select in which cohort (first, second or third) you would like to take the course. Link Form

The application form will be available from June 22, 2021.