Panama: ICITAP Coordinates Direct Contact With Forensic and Investigative Experts

On April 19, ICITAP concluded a five-day study tour for Panamanian officials to various agencies in California. Members of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science (IMELCF) and the Directorate of the Judicial Investigative (DIJ) of the Panamanian National Police (PNP) visited the Sacramento Police Department, the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), the Sacramento Superior Court, and the DA’s ISO-accredited laboratory to review how evidence is collected from the scene, stored and secured throughout the legal process to include its eventual legal destruction/disposition. They also reviewed how policies, procedures, manuals and policing standards are developed and maintained contemporarily to best practices and legal standards. Because of an accrediting process that is taking place in Panama and the changeover to the accusatory system, evidence management and contemporary policies and procedures are essential and timely. In Panama, ICITAP partners with the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) on this project.