Spearheading Forensics Reform for the Caribbean

The Caribbean’s geographic location makes it a strategic transit point for regional and international crime networks to conduct a wide range of illicit activities, including extortion, kidnapping, murder, money laundering, and trafficking. Countries in the region face challenges conducting criminal investigations. A lack of resources, training, and standard operating procedures makes it difficult to effectively collect and use forensic evidence in criminal proceedings, which impacts conviction rates. 

SCG, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), is supporting forensics reform in the Caribbean by preparing laboratories in Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, and St. Lucia for ISO/IEC accreditation in select disciplines.  Activities include:

• Improving laboratory processes and procedures across disciplines to align with international best practices and accreditation requirements
• Training and mentoring law enforcement and judicial personnel on forensic evidence
• Institutionalizing new processes and procedures to improve the reliability and quality of laboratory services to guide case investigations

Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) is a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the ability of the United States and its partners to build strategic security sector capacity both at home and abroad. SCG assists donor and recipient governments to assess institutional capacity, identify gaps, develop and implement solutions, and improve the sustainability and impact of reform.

SCG’s Institution Building Program enhances the strategic capacity of security services, ministries of defense, interior, and public security, andoperational and combatant commands to improve the sustainability and impact of modernization and reform programs. This is accomplished by:

• Providing guidance to address policy and implementation gaps;
• Assessing institution-building needs;
• Designing and implementing capacity building support to meet identified needs; and
• Advising on best practices to institutionalize enhanced processes and procedures to meet the recipient institution’s mission and goals.

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