Presentation
The Training Area of the Justice Studies Center of
the Americas is the instrument through which the Center translates its
general objectives and the projects that it develops into teaching
programs.
This area’s activity is framed by the judicial reform
processes that are being implemented in the countries of Latin America
and the Caribbean. Its work involves the design and implementation of
various modes of intervention based on the specificities of each local
reality. A common denominator in these processes is training. Despite
the importance of the reform initiatives, there is a certain feeling of
frustration with the results obtained. We believe that this is due to
flawed expectations and a failure to adjust the methodologies to the
current challenges.
We believe that one cannot expect training alone to
alter the structure and functioning of the judicial system. It can,
however, provide support for reform processes, preparing officials to
work with new institutions, procedures or systems. In this way, training
is an instrument that serves judicial reforms under a broader,
comprehensive strategy for change that requires a complete redesign that
moves away from the traditional paradigms of legal education.
JSCA’s training proposal does not follow the abstract tradition that
characterizes the training of justice operators. It seeks to address
specific problems and needs in the justice system based on empirical
information and instruments that have been proved to be efficient when
it comes time to provide solutions.