El Salvador Gang
Counternarcotics and Law Enforcement Country Program: El Salvador
In addition, as part of Plan Friendly Hand, the Salvadoran non-government organization FundaSalva and the Government's National Council for Public Security jointly operate an U.S. Government-donated laser tattoo removal machine. Former gang members who meet the stringent requirements of gang demobilization (leaving the gang life behind) and successful substance abuse treatment are eligible to have their gang tattoos removed for free. Removing tattoos decreases the possibility of gang recidivism while increasing the prospect of finding gainful employment, both of which reduce the likelihood of future drug consumption. In 2004, FundaSalva provided tattoo removal services for 251 individuals. ... [Read More]
El Salvador
The Internal Affairs Unit of the PNC, which reports to the Inspector General, investigates administrative complaints against police; transfers information on criminal activity by police to the Attorney General’s office; and monitors criminal investigations of police. The Unit reports findings of administrative violations to the Inspector General and the PNC Director for disciplinary action. Individuals may appeal through disciplinary hearings in special police courts that are an internal, administrative mechanism of the PNC. These courts can punish guilty parties with disciplinary measures or remove them from the police force. During the year, a special appeals board continued to review appeals by former PNC employees who were dismissed under expedited procedures authorized by the Legislative Assembly in 2000 (Decree 101). The police chief dismissed 1,000 officers during the 5 1/2 months that the special disciplinary authority was in force. A total of 295 officers app ... [Read More]
El Salvador
Prison authorities reported that there were 59 deaths from violence and natural causes in the prison system during the year. On August 18, a riot between gang members and nongang members at the La Esperanza Penitentiary, better known as "Mariona" prison, left 31 prisoners dead and 28 injured. In September, Director of Prisons Rodolfo Garay Pineda transferred all Mara Salvatrucha gang members to the Quezaltepeque and Ciudad Barrios prisons and all Mara 18 gang members to Chalatenango and Cojutepeque. In the wake of the riot, the Government initiated a public dialogue on prisons among judges, prosecutors, human rights NGOs, and others; new procedures were subsequently implemented to better segregate hardened violent offenders from other prisoners. In November, Prisons Director Garay Pineda resigned; Mariona Prison Warden Jose Antonio Guzman Blanco was indicted in December for negligence in preventing and reporting drug trafficking at the facility. ... [Read More]
El Salvador
The law requires that all juveniles be housed separately from adults both prior to trial and while serving a prison sentence, and the Government generally observes this requirement in practice. Gang violence in juvenile holding facilities is a problem. In April the authorities separated the different gangs in the country's juvenile correction centers into different facilities to mitigate violence between rival groups. The Salvadoran Institute for the Protection of Children (ISPM) reported a sharp reduction of gang-related violence in youth corrections centers and an increased ability to implement education and reintegration programs following this change. Most criminal cases involving juveniles are brought to trial or conciliation proceedings within 3 months. ... [Read More]
El Salvador
The Constitution provides for a right to privacy, and government authorities generally respected this right in practice. The law requires the police to have a resident's consent, a warrant, or a reasonable belief that a crime is under way or is about to be committed before entering a private dwelling. Police can use undercover agents with the permission of the Attorney General and enter legally private property without a warrant when criminal activity is suspected. With a judge's order, samples of blood and other bodily fluids can be taken without the consent of the accused. Section 2 Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The Constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and the Government generally respected these rights in practice. Print and broadcast journalists from all major media ... [Read More]
Remarks With El Salvadoran President Antonio Saca
PRESIDENT SACA: (Via interpreter) Well, I would like to tell you that we were talking with Dr. Rice about the gangs. This is a topic of concern for the United States and El Salvador. We considered that many of these gang members that are criminals have to be judged in the United States. Otherwise, if they’re deported, we should have all the information about them so that the authorities of our country can try them and surveil them in some way because they have not committed a crime in El Salvador. This is a very concerning issue and it’s going to be in the agenda of discussion and our authorities have been permanently talking with the United States to find a solution to this problem of some deportations that might come ahead in the future. ... [Read More]
US Embassy Guatemala City - Recent Crime Incidents Involving Foreigners
1 1 11/19/04 1 1 CA-9A, Km. 87 to KM 73, Ruta al Pacífico: At approximately 4:00 p.m. a pullman bus with a dozen foreigners was driving from Quetzaltenango to Puerto San José when it was stopped by three men. Agents in a police (PNC) vehicle patroling the highway became suspicious by the drawn curtains on the bus. The police followed the bus for 15 kilometers before it stopped near the area of Siquinalá. Three armed robbers got off the bus and began firing at the police. Following the gun battle, one of the suspects was killed and the other two suspects who lived in the capital city were captured. 1 11/12/04 1 1 [Read More]
Western Hemisphere
The Embassy has dedicated $100,000 in counternarcotics assistance funding from the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) to support the "Si Se Puede" government program for youth at risk. Coordinated by the Vice President's office and implemented with the assistance of NGOs, police, community leaders and teachers, this project works in vulnerable communities to discourage drug use and gang membership. Many of the youth in this program are at risk of becoming victims of violence if they join gangs. ... [Read More]
Canada, Mexico, and Central America
In addition, as part of Plan Friendly Hand, FundaSalva operates a USG-donated laser tattoo removal machine. Former gang members who meet the stringent requirements of gang demobilization (leaving the gang life behind) and successful substance abuse treatment are eligible to have their gang tattoos removed for free. Removing tattoos decreases the possibility of gang recidivism while increasing the prospect of finding gainful employment, both of which reduce the likelihood of future drug consumption. In 2004, FundaSalva provided tattoo removal services for 251 individuals. ... [Read More]
F) Canada, Mexico, and Central America
Road Ahead. The U.S. government will continue to provide operational support to Salvadoran law enforcement institutions, anti-money-laundering training, and essential investigative tools. In partnership with the GOES, the USG plans to construct a vehicle inspection facility, construct a new headquarters for the DAN, and build new kennels for the DAN’s drug-sniffing dogs. To reduce drug consumption and crime, the United States will also fund a laser tattoo-removal machine. Over 40 percent of homicides are gang related, and there is a direct linkage between El Salvador gangs and their U.S. counterparts. A tattoo removal machine will help reduce recidivism amongst gang members, thereby reducing crime and increasing rehabilitation. In addition, the USG will sponsor a comprehensive national study of drug use. ... [Read More]
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