Dexis worked with USAID/El Salvador, the justice sector, and civil society partners to expand the reach and scale of people-centered justice services for victims of crime and people accused of crimes.
Context
As the U.S. Government works to address the root causes of migration in Central America, projects that strengthen the justice sector, democratic governance, and advance the rule of law are critical for creating a prosperous and safe Central America.
In line with USAID’s Rule of Law Policy, the El Salvador Justice Project centered interventions on the perspective and needs of citizens rather than structuring approaches around the needs of justice sector institutions.
Approach
Our approach was designed to respond to the prolonged, unpredictable, and often futile experience that users endure when interacting with the criminal justice sector, particularly in the current country context. We were working to build trust in the criminal justice sector from the ground up by putting justice users at the center through diverse services designed to meet users where they are. In parallel, we were working to improve the performance of justice sector institutions, particularly public defense, to better represent clients and their needs. To promote the independence, transparency, and accountability of the justice sector, we supported civil society through innovative engagement strategies. The project targeted El Salvador’s West, Central, and East regions through activities in Santa Ana, San Salvador, and San Miguel.
