1. The Hemispheric Network for Legal Cooperation in Criminal Matters of the OAS/REMJA "CRIMINAL MATTERS NETWORK"

2. The REMJA Process: Principal political and technical hemispheric forum for addressing justice issues and inter-American legal cooperation on mainly criminal matters. Main developments relating to mutual assistance and extradition: Working Group of the REMJA on Legal Cooperation in Criminal Matters The Criminal Matters Network. Background

3. Is a set of electronic tools to facilitate and increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and timeliness of cooperation and the exchange of information between central authorities and other government experts responsible for mutual assistance in criminal matters and extradition in the American states. The Criminal Matters Network

4. 20002001 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 San José Quebec Port of Spain OAS Santo Domingo Santo Domingo Washington Brasilia Quito REMJA III: establishment of the Network Third Summit of the Americas: reiterate establishing the Network REMJA IV: development of the private website REMJA V: adoption of the Criminal Matters Network REMJA VI and VII: consolidation of the Network on Criminal Matters REMJA VIII and IX: the Criminal Matters Network Progress

5. Composition: PublicComponent - Free virtual legal library - Legal information on mutual assistance and extradition in the member states (more than 1,000 documents). - Dictionary and Glossary of legal Terms. 11 www.oas.org/juridico/mla

6. PrivateComponent - Website with information of exclusive interest to central authorities in charge of mutual legal assistance and extradition. Directory of authorities and national points of contact. 22 www.oas.org/juridico/mla/restricted

7. SecureComponent Communication tool with a focus on collaborative and secure work. Directory of contacts. On-line training. 33

8. A set of software tools that facilitates information exchange through secure communication applications, such as instantaneous e-mail, workspaces, virtual meetings, and document exchange among geographically dispersed groups through public networks Facilitates secure communications. Information is 100% confidential. No member state controls the application. The GS/OAS does not have access to the information transmitted. Secure Component: Some considerations...

9. Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Belize Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominica Ecuador El Salvador United States Grenada Guatemala Secure Component: Participation and institutionalization Guyana Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Dominican Republic Saint Kitts and Nevis Suriname Trinidad and Tobago Uruguay Venezuela 41 memorandums of understanding 18 Ministries of Justice 15 Attorney General's Offices (Ministerios Públicos) 5 Ministries of Foreign Affairs 3 Supreme Courts of Justice: France Member states Other states Institutionalization More than 100 users in 41 institutions in 32 states connected

10. BRAZIL: "On numerous occasions the Central Authority in Brazil requested information from the points of contact in the Groove System of other OAS member states regarding the competent authorities for addressing certain requests or regarding the laws of those countries. In the vast majority of cases, the system proved to be efficient for such purposes. The Central Authority in Brazil uses the Groove contacts as the main source of information regarding the points of contact of the central authorities in other OAS member states." ARGENTINA: "Speed of communication and certainty that the ideas expressed will remain confidential." User experiences

11. MEXICO: “Use of the System has greatly expedited the dispatch and monitoring of requests for legal assistance from the coordinating authorities of other countries and it has become an extremely useful tool for exchanging information." COSTA RICA: “I should not fail to mention that use of "Groove" mail by the Public Prosecutors in OATRI [the Technical Advice and International Relations Office of the Attorney General's office] has become an essential tool for reducing the time it takes to respond in transnational crime cases. PANAMA: “Communication by e-mail has greatly simplified the procedure for tracking applications for judicial assistance. Thanks to this system, we have been able to work effectively with Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Argentina, and Jamaica.”

12. SecureVideoconference Secure videoconference system over the Internet similar to the secure communication system used by the Network. - Secure videoconference system over the Internet similar to the secure communication system used by the Network. 44 Secure Videoconference - A secure tool for exchanging audio and video in real time over the Internet. 44 Internet

13. Security and administration features similar to those of the secure component. All that is required: Internet connection, microphone, and webcam. Easy to use. Integrated with existing platform. States that already have the system in place: Secure videoconferences: Some considerations...

14. In short PublicComponent - Free virtual legal library - Legal information on mutual assistance and extradition in the member states (more than 1,000 documents). - Dictionary and Glossary of legal Terms. 11 PrivateComponent - Website with information of exclusive interest to central authorities in charge of mutual legal assistance and extradition. Directory of authorities and national points of contact. 22 SecureComponent Communication tool with a focus on collaborative and secure work. Directory of contacts. On-line training. 33 Secure videoconference system over the Internet similar to the secure communication system used by the Network. - Secure videoconference system over the Internet similar to the secure communication system used by the Network. Videoconference - A secure tool for exchanging audio and video in real time over the Internet. 44

15. Criminal Matters Network An effective, constantly evolving tool for cooperation, incorporating state-of-the-art technology… Technological updating of the public and private components platform. Smart searches of multilateral and bilateral treaties on international legal cooperation. Virtual directories of central authorities and points of contact. New tools made available to address the operational needs of the network.

17. The Hemispheric Network for Legal Cooperation in Criminal Matters of the OAS/REMJA "CRIMINAL MATTERS NETWORK"