| The
breakup of the former Soviet Union and the move to democracy by all
of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe is forcing profound
change, not only in the region, but throughout the world. These changes
are not merely political, but have significant impact on national
economies, social structures, and law enforcement. The weakening or
elimination of borders and the increased availability of electronic
forms of communication and commerce have allowed criminals almost
unlimited mobility. These social, political, and economic changes
have occurred much faster than the ability of law enforcement to respond
to these new challenges. This is particularly true in some emerging
democracies of the world, who have ill-equipped and poorly trained
police, little if any money, and inadequate laws that are not effective
in allowing the police to attack organized criminal enterprises. If
these organized criminal enterprises with roots elsewhere in the world
are allowed to grow and migrate beyond their borders, they will inevitably
invade the United States.
The Director of the FBI
is charged with the duty to detect, investigate, and assist in the
prosecution of crimes committed against the United States and its
citizens. The establishment of effective international police liaison
is a critical task in carrying out this mission. The development
of effective police training programs are proven ways to ensure
international police cooperation.
The mission of the International
Training Section, located at Quantico, Virginia, is to administer
and coordinate all international mission-oriented training for the
FBI. Through coordination with other FBI operational divisions,
the International Relations Section, Department of Justice - Office
of International Programs, the Department of State, and affected
United States' embassies overseas, prioritized training is provided
in support of the FBI's international investigative responsibilities.
International training
initiatives fall into seven basic categories:
- International country
assessments/evaluations and/or needs analysis
- International in-country
(outside the 50 states) training
- International training
conducted in the United States
- FBI instructor development
and cultural awareness
- International Law Enforcement
Academies (ILEA), Budapest, Hungary and Bankok, Thailand
- Mexican/American Law
Enforcement Training (MALET) initiative
- The Pacific Rim Training
Initiative (PTI)
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