Virtual Course on Pretrial Services

The objective of this virtual course is to present the main elements of pretrial services, that is, the function of assessing the need to protect the criminal proceedings and the supervision of alternative protective measures.

The course will cover the following:
  • Challenges in Latin America involving the use of protective measures and introduction of pretrial services.
  • Evaluation of the need for protection.
  • Supervision of protective measures.
  • Application: Cases and components for implementation.

This course is directed at judges, prosecutors, public defenders, mental health professionals, officials of state agencies and non-governmental organizations, academics, and anyone interested in learning about the issue of pretrial detention in the context of Latin America.
The objective of this course is to present the main elements of pretrial services, that is, the function of assessing the need to protect the criminal proceedings and the supervision of alternative protective measures.

The course is also designed to describe challenges related to the use of such measures in Latin America and key aspects for the implementation of pretrial services in the regional context.
Module 1: Challenges in Latin America involving the use of protective measures and introduction of pretrial services
This module addresses the context and current state of protective measures in Latin America and the challenges related to their use. It offers an introduction to pretrial services as a tool for rationalizing the use of protective measures and discusses their principles and benefits.

Module 2: Assessing the need for protection
This module explains the first of the two main functions of pretrial services: evaluating the need for protection. This model will present the main steps involved in this process: gathering information, verifying it, assessing procedural risks, and generating a report for the judge with relevant, quality information for decision-making about protective measures.

Module 3: Supervision of protective measures
This module explains the second function of pretrial services: supervision of protective measures. This module examines the main steps involved with this function as well as related strategies and methods.

Module 4: Application: Cases and components for implementation
This module features an exercise that allows students to explore how pretrial services can be applied to a specific case. It then mentions the components involved with implementing the service.
This course is directed at judges, prosecutors, public defenders, mental health professionals, officials of state agencies and non-governmental organizations, academics, and anyone interested in learning about the issue of pretrial detention in the context of Latin America.
If you wish to receive an electronic certificate of completion, email info@cejamericas.org and submit the following information:
  • Full name
  • Course
  • Proof of undergraduate enrollment (where applicable)

The electronic certificate costs US$40, which must be paid electronically to our institution. The payment information will be sent via email once the request for certification is made.
REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MARCH