Posted on 06/04/2008 4:28:24 PM PDT by mdittmar
KIRKUK, Iraq – Kirkuk Provincial Rule of Law judges and lawyers met with their key provincial and city police leadership during the inaugural Criminal Justice Conference at Forward Operating Base Warrior in Kirkuk May 29.
“The security gains of the region are evident -- over a 70 percent decrease in violent attacks against ISF, Kirkuk citizens and the Coalition forces. As a result, we can now begin our transition from a form of martial law to rule of law,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Brown, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division deputy commander.
The agenda of the meeting included recent case studies that focused on evidence collection and detainee treatment.
“The two crucial stages of a case are the initial contact and determination that a crime has been committed by the police,” Chief Investigative Judge Farooq Ameen Othman said. “The second is the collection of evidence and the questioning of suspects.
The manner in which the police and investigators handle those stages, could determine the outcome of that case.”
He also explained the procedures of good evidence collection and elaborated on the Rule of Law articles 127 and 333, which both speak to detainee abuse.
Kirkuk Provincial Police Chief Maj. Gen. Jamal Thaker Bakr, a former lawyer, agreed with the judges that better understanding between what is expected of police officers and additional training in interrogation procedures are necessary to safeguard the rights of Kirkuk’s citizens and ensure criminals are jailed.
“I will personally see that both articles are understood and enforced by my station chiefs,” he said.
“As unusual as it sounds, when we can begin discussing better procedures on evidence collection and treatment of our detainees in cases other than insurgent activities – it highlights the successes we are enjoying in terms of security in this region. We will be equally successful when it comes to carrying out the rules of law,” Brown said.
More conferences are planned in the future with current topics of concern setting the theme.
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Oopsie on the title...:)
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