Colombia's Criminal Justice System

The South American nation of Colombia is the focal point of the worldwide war against illegal drugs. As a result, international scrutiny has cast a harsh spotlight on that country's laws, courts, and police. This paper will analyze Colombia's criminal justice system, from the judges to the police to organized crime, and the role that each group plays in Colombian society. This paper also will examine the role of the United States in Colombian society, and compare the two nations' criminal justice systems.

Colombia revamped its constitution in 1991, implementing numerous changes designed to enhance the rule of law in a nation long known for being somewhat lawless. Those changes, however, only demonstrated the impotence of the Colombian government, and not the failure of the rule of law. All of the structural modifications had little impact because Colombia lacked legitimate institutions to execute them, much to the chagrin of the U.S.

Colombia's role as the world's top drug exporter makes it a high priority for the U.S., the world's top drug importer. The Americans have alternately cajoled and coerced Colombia, often to no avail. The limits of American influence became evident once again in late 1997, when Colombia's Chamber of Representatives passed a "watered-down" extradition bill. The law permitted extradition, but only for crimes committed after the bill was passed. Thus, members of Colombia's drug cartels could not be extradited

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were attacked without provocation 36 times, resulting in the deaths of 22 agents and injuries to 46 others. In addition, traffickers and guerrillas downed four police planes and helicopters and destroyed a police base in the Colombian city of Miraflores, a hotbed for drug trafficking (Eaton A1). The local police are generally viewed as corrupt, but the Colombian National Police has earned quite a reputation in recent years for their bravery. They also have been successful, capturing or killing virtually all of the Cali cartel's leadership and earning high praise from the U.S. (Constantine International). The work of the Colombian National Police helped Colombia avoid the loss of U.S. aid in 1998. Colombia had been decertified by the U.S. in 1996 for not cooperating sufficiently in anti-drug efforts. But thanks largely to the efforts of the Colombian National Police, President Clinton issued a waiver of sanctions for Colombia. The Colombian Army also is heavily involved in drug interdiction. Some areas of Colombia are simply too dangerous for police to venture, especially those areas where Marxist rebels are in control and provide security for drug traffickers. The Colombian National Police has no answer for the rebels' wea

Category: Foreign - C