The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) supports the Government of Georgia's efforts to improve the professionalism and operational capacity of Georgian law enforcement. Initiated in 1999, INL-Tbilisi has implemented various projects and sponsored professional training in-country and overseas. Main projects include:
Resident Legal Advisor (RLA)
INL funds the Georgia Justice Sector Development Program. With RLA assistance, the Georgian Parliament passed a Council of Europe and FATF compliant anti-money laundering law; a U.S.–style plea-bargaining law, and anti-child pornography legislation. The RLA and visiting U.S. legal practitioners assisted a Georgian drafting group with reforming the Criminal Procedure Code that will be compliant with international standards and will facilitate effective criminal investigations and prosecutions. Jury trials will also be implemented in a limited scope.
Forensic Development Project
This project aims to bolster Georgia’s forensic capacities to meet international standards and procedures in preparation for Georgia's impending transition to a jury-trial system. Georgia's National Forensic Bureau has the only DNA lab in the Caucasus region developed with INL-funded technical assistance. INL and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are partnering in a major renovation of the laboratory building. INL retains a contract forensic advisor who provides technical assistance, addresses training needs, and purchases required lab equipment. INL partners with contractors and other federal agencies to provide training in the proper collection, storage and analysis of criminal evidence. The INL advisor works closely with a Quality Assurance team to develop policies and procedures consistent with international standards of forensic laboratory operation.
Law Enforcement Academy Development Project
The Georgian Government adopted a tactical, American style training approach to train its national police force. INL funds the current construction of a new building that will provide classroom space for 250 and housing for 130 students. In addition to facilities renovation, INL funded technical experts to assist with curriculum development and regularly provides training in various aspects of law enforcement, including defensive tactics, officer safety and survival skills, traffic enforcement and weapons training using a virtual reality non-lethal weapons simulator. INL is currently working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design and build a modern firing range, so that officers can be properly trained to safely and effectively use their sidearm. INL recently funded renovation of several rooms to house the academy's new English Language Center, and provided assistance for curriculum development and instruction.
Anti-Trafficking in Persons (TIP) training
With funding from INL, the Ministry of Defense of Georgia has implemented an Anti-TIP training and awareness program for military personnel. Using curriculum materials developed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the program provided a training DVD and printed material for troops that deployed to Iraq in January. In addition to meeting this time sensitive requirement, IOM trained nearly 400 officers and non-commissioned officers, and conducted train-the-trainer sessions for military academy instructors to ensure sustainability of the program. INL will fund a second iteration of training for the follow-on brigade's impending deployment to Iraq.
Contact INL Admin Assistant Gvantsa Sauri with further questions at: saurig@state.gov.
