U.S. & International Law Enforcement Academy

U.S. & International Law Enforcement Academy

U.S. & International Law Enforcement Academy

Introduction

On October 22, 1995, President Clinton called for the establishment of a network of International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEAs) throughout the world to combat international drug trafficking, criminality, and terrorism through strengthened international cooperation. The U.S. and participating nations have expanded this program with to include four ILEA Academies: Europe (Budapest), Africa (Gaborone), Central and South America (San Salvador) and Asia (Bangkok). A Regional Training Center has also been established in Lima and a Academic ILEA in Roswell, New Mexico, which offers academic aspects of law enforcement at the “ Advanced Management “ level.

 

Discussion

International crime, particularly financial and organized crime, is being detected on an ever increasing basis in Western Europe and the United States. A number of these criminal enterprises have their roots in Central and Eastern Europe. The economic situation in many countries of this region is extremely fragile and threatened by multiplying criminal activity. It is in the interests of the United States and the international law enforcement community to provide assistance to the ILEA services of these countries in an effort to thwart such criminal enterprises before they migrate and to build partnerships in detecting and prosecuting them once identified.

As such, in 1995, the governments of the United States and Hungary cooperated to create the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Budapest, Hungary to support law enforcement training in Central Europe. Located on the "Buda" side of the city, the Academy offers training opportunities for up to 130 delegates at one time. The academy programs are comprised of eight-week courses and shorter (one- to two-week) seminars (www.afp.gov.au).

The Law Enforcement Executive Development (LEED) course program is eight weeks in duration and is administered five times a year for mid-level law enforcement officers of the former socialist countries.

In addition to the five annual LEED courses, ILEA hosts approximately 15 one- and two- week specialized courses every year with topics ranging from transnational terrorism through crime scene investigation to illegal migration and trafficking in persons.

ILEA Budapest is staffed with two American accredited diplomats: the director, who is an FBI supervisory special agent, and the deputy director, who is a Diplomatic Security Service (U.S Department of State) supervisory special agent.

Ministry of Justice and Law Enforcement, International Training Center (MoJLE ITCCMC) hosts ILEA and provides all the necessary conditions to the functioning on the basis of the Bilateral Agreement, signed between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Hungary. The Hungarian Director keeps dailiy contact with the Academy, provides staff and acts as a general service provider.

International crime, particularly financial and organized crime, is being detected on an ever increasing basis in Western Europe and the United States. A number of these criminal enterprises have their roots in Central and Eastern Europe. The economic situation in many countries of this region is extremely fragile and threatened by multiplying criminal ...