Department of Public Security

Steven Griner
Director of the Department of Public Security
Bio

The Department of Public Security (DPS) was established in 2005 with the purpose of supporting the efforts of the Member States in the assessment, prevention, diagnosis, management, and response to traditional, new, and emerging threats to public security in the countries of the Americas. DPS works under the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security.

The DPS prioritizes its work based on the mandates and recommendations that originate from the General Assembly, the Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security (and its Subsidiary Technical Groups), Meetings of National Authorities, and the Committee on Hemispheric Security of the Permanent Council.  

The efforts are focused on 7 major thematic areas: 

  • Violence and crime prevention and reduction. 
  • Police institution reform and professionalization of law enforcement personnel. 
  • Penitentiary institution reform, reintegration of inmates, and professionalization of prison staff. 
  • Strengthening the investigative capabilities of law enforcement and judicial authorities, including crimes related to irregular migration and extortion kidnapping. 
  • Control and reduction of the illegal manufacture and trafficking of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and related materials. 
  • Minefield neutralization, landmine deactivation and destruction, raising awareness of the risks and impact of landmines, and assisting victims. 

Standardization of indicators and methodologies to enhance data quality, coordination of observatories, and information mechanisms related to public security. 

The DPS develops these 7 thematic areas based on 4 lines of action: 

  • Technical assistance. 
  • Elaboration and implementation of instruments and normative frameworks. 
  • International cooperation and horizontal exchange. 
  • Support to the political bodies of the OAS in matters of public security. 

In addition, the DPS works with generation of information and knowledge on relevant topics for the countries in the hemisphere in a transversal manner across all areas.



Structure
Security and Justice Section
Supports the member states in the design, implementation and evaluation of public policies that promote the improvement of their police and justice systems, the effective implementation of access to justice, and the professionalization and modernization of police forces and their penitentiary systems. It also promotes the creation of victim and witness assistance and protection programs and the strengthening of police, prosecutorial and judicial crime investigation capacity. 
Prevention of Violence Section
The Section for the Prevention of Violence supports member states in the design and implementation of programs, plans, projects, public policies, and other initiatives to strengthen institutional and human capacities to prevent and reduce violence, crime, and insecurity, as well as to assist victims and survivors in their comprehensive reintegration.
Conventional Arms and Ammunition Section
Supports Member States in strengthening their capacity to manage conventional arms and ammunition through operational programs. In addition, it seeks to provide technical advice to related political forums (CIFTA, CITAAC, CSBM) and generate information on the challenges of illicit trafficking and proliferation of arms and ammunition.
Information and Knowledge Section
Collects, generates, and makes available public security data, information and knowledge.
Humanitarian Mine Action Section
AICMA seeks to reestablish safe and productive living conditions for mine-affected communities. Its activities include humanitarian demining; mine-risk education; the physical rehabilitation and economic integration of victims of mines and other explosive devices; the destruction of stockpiled mines; and the promotion of the ban on the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of antipersonnel mines.
Political Forums Section
The DPS, in it is capacity as the technical secretariat, follows up on the mandates assigned in the resolutions, declarations, and/or recommendations of the General Assembly, Permanent Council, and political forums, regarding Public Security.
More Projects
Highlighted Projects, Programs and Initiatives
Prevent, investigate and counter criminal activity linked to the exploitation of Venezuelan refugees and migrants (PICAD)
Project to strengthen the capacity of seven Member States in the matter
On the right, men standing with their backs turned, weapons stacked and on tables. On the left, a woman standing with a cello at her side.
Program of Assistance on Control of Arms and Munition (PACAM)
PACAM is a comprehensive strategy that seeks to reduce armed violence by strengthening the capacity of OAS Member States to prevent and reduce the illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition
Six people seated at a table, all front facing, with an OAS banner in the back.
Strengthening the capacities of Ecuador's justice system to combat security threats
Strengthen the capacity of the judicial system in achieving greater efficiency, effectiveness and agility in the investigation, prosecution, and control of threats to public safety.
More Publications
Highlighted Publications
Cover of Principles and guidelines for the assistance of trafficked persons in human mobility
December, 2023
Principles and guidelines for the assistance of trafficked persons in human mobility (Available only in spanish)
Cover of Recommendations for the improvement of actions for the prevention, protection, persecution and prosecution of human trafficking in Honduras
November, 2024
Recommendations for the improvement of actions for the prevention, protection, persecution and prosecution of human trafficking in Honduras (available only in spanish)
Cover of Specialized training and mentoring on human trafficking for the Public Prosecutor's Office in Honduras
November, 2024
Specialized training and mentoring on human trafficking for the Public Prosecutor's Office in Honduras (available only in spanish)
Portada de Principles and guidelines for the identification, assistance and protection of child and adolescent victims of trafficking in persons
December, 2023
Principles and guidelines for the identification, assistance and protection of child and adolescent victims of trafficking in persons (available only in spanish)
More Events
Highlighted Events
woman speaking from a podium and audience listening
Presentation ceremony of the project “Strengthening the capacities of Ecuador's justice system to combat security threats”
Jun 10, 2024
Salón de los Próceres, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana
Quito, Ecuador
Workshop: "Promoting Military Confidence-Building Measures in the OAS region"
Workshop: "Promoting Military Confidence-Building Measures in the OAS region"
Hybrid Seminar at OAS Headquarters in Washington, D.C., with virtual connection
Jan 31, 2024 - Feb 1, 2024
OAS Headquarters / Sede OEA
First Regular Meeting of the Consultative Committee to the CITAAC
First Regular Meeting of the Consultative Committee to the CITAAC
Feb 1, 2024
OAS Headquarters / Sede OEA
Conversation "Police service in the context of COVID19"
Conversation "Police service in the context of COVID19"
Jul 28, 2020
Men and women seated at a table. Behind, the flags of all the member countries.
MISPA I
MISPA I sought to strengthen peace and security on the continent by identifying challenges and seeking cooperation strategies to address them.
Oct 7, 2008 - Oct 8, 2008
Mexico D.F., Mexico
Men seated watching someone reading a document. In the background, flags of the countries of the member states.
MISPA II
Importance of public security and police management, prevention of crime , violence, and insecurity, community participation and international cooperation.
Nov 4, 2009 - Nov 5, 2009
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Men and women seated at a table. Behind, the OAS logo.
MISPA III
MISPA III sought to institutionalize the MISPA meeting process and focused on strengthening and professionalizing police management.
Nov 17, 2011 - Nov 18, 2011
Puerto España, Trinidad and Tobago
Men and women standing behind a table. In the background, a sign pointing to the name of the IV meeting.
MISPA IV
The IV Meeting of MISPA aimed at consolidating the Subsidiary Technical Group on Police Management to promote recommendations in this area.
Nov 20, 2013 - Nov 21, 2013
Medellín, Colombia
Men and women seated at different rectangular tables. Behind, a poster with the name of the VI meeting and flags of the member states.
MISPA VI
The VI Meeting led to the creation of the Subsidiary Technical Group for the Prevention of Crime, Violence and Insecurity, consolidation of prevention as a fundamental axis.
Oct 10, 2017 - Oct 11, 2017
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Men and women seated at rectangular tables so that everyone can see each other. Behind them, the flags of the member states.
MISPA VII
MISPA VII seeks to consolidate cooperation strategies for the prevention of crime and insecurity in the region.
Oct 30, 2019 - Oct 31, 2019
Quito, Ecuador
Men and women seated at rectangular tables, facing each other. Behind them, the flags of the member states and a banner with the name of the meeting.
MISPA V
MISPA V sought to consolidate the process of professionalization of police management in the member states through mutual cooperation.
Nov 19, 2015 - Nov 20, 2015
Lima, Peru
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