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PROFILE
Profile
of the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association (LINLEA) and
the Center for Criminal Justice Research and Education (CCJRE).
The
Liberia National Law Enforcement Association (LINLEA) was established
in March 1994 as a professional, non-partisan, and non-profit organization
to bring together law enforcement personnel and support staff to
constitute a consolidated association or consortium that would promote
professionalism within law enforcement and other criminal justice
institutions.
Serving
as a voice of law enforcement in Liberia, LINLEA represents police
offices, immigration and fire service personnel, correction officers,
industrial and private security personnel and law enforcement support
staff throughout Liberia.
LINLEA'S
primary goals are to improve the quality of law enforcement services
and personnel, and promote a more democratic and humane service
on the part of justice related institutions in Liberia. LINLEA also
seeks to maintain a non-partisan profession, advocate for improved
working conditions, better salaries and adequate training and education
for law enforcement personnel, and encourage community participation
in meeting the challenges of crimes and disorder in our society.
MISSION
STATEMENT
The
Liberia National Law Enforcement Association is a professional body,
which seeks to improve the quality of law enforcement services,
promote a more humane and democratic approach to justice administration
which takes into consideration respect for human rights, liberty
and dignity; encourages community participation in meeting the challenges
of crime and disorder, and seeks the welfare of the members of the
law enforcement profession.
AIMS
AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION
The
aims and objectives of the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association
are:
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To
pull or bring together all law enforcement agencies and institutions,
be it private or public, to constitute a consolidated Association
or consortium;
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To ensure that the ethics and canons of the law enforcement
profession are strictly observed and adhered to, and help maintain
a nonpartisan profession;
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To
liaise with the appropriate authorities of government to ensure
the passage of legislation that will from time to time improve
the practice of law enforcement, improve the living standard
of participants of profession, and guarantee the safety and
well being of the men and women of the profession.
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Ensure
community participation and cooperation in meeting the challenges
of crimes and disorder.
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To
seek, encourage and promote law enforcement education and training
opportunities and programs for members of the profession;
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To assist, as a consortium, in the decision making process in
public and private law enforcement entities;
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To ensure that the rights of law abiding citizens and those
accused of crimes are protected at all times;
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To
established ties and affiliation with national and international
law enforcement institutions and criminal justice organizations.
MEMBERSHIIP
The
Liberia National Law Enforcement Association has two major categories
of members, designated as Regular and Associate members, respectively.
Regular members are those members who have undergone basic police
training or other appropriate law enforcement or security training,
whether they are in active service or not. Associate members are
members of the Association who are currently working with law enforcement
agencies but have not had formal law enforcement training. This
category includes students in Criminal Justice and law enforcement
support staff. Associate members are not eligible to hold office.
The Association now has a membership of about six hundred members
drawn from more that 25 public and private law enforcement institutions
in Liberia.
ACTIVITIES
AND PROGRAMS
LINLEA
is engaged in variety of activities and programs aimed at promoting
professionalism and human rights; protecting officers' rights, and
fostering unity amongst the men and women of the profession.
In
furtherance of goals, LINLEA focuses on three (3) major programs
and activities:
1.
Law enforcement Education and training. This component attempts
to improve the capacity and capability of law enforcement officers
by conducting workshops, seminars, conference and training programs
for officers, provide scholarships for members, and create a conducive
atmosphere for career development and learning. The Association
has established the Center for Criminal Justice Research and Education
to provide technical and advance training to law enforcement and
criminal justice personnel, as well conduct research on divers aspect
of criminal justice practices and policies in Liberia and elsewhere.
2.
Human Right Promotion and Advocacy Program. This program
seeks to promote a more democratic and humane approach to justice
administration. The Association publishes a journal the Criminal
Justice Review to discuss issues related to the criminal justice
system and human rights in Liberia. The Association also hosts a
quarterly public forum - The Wilfred E. Clark Forum on Social Justice
and the Rule of Law and a monthly radio program - The Criminal Justice
Forum, to discuss issues related to social justice, human rights,
peace building democracy and the rule of law.
3. Welfare and Labor Relations: This component seeks to promote
improved working conditions for officers, better salaries, merit
system, and fairness and justice in the adjudication of complaints
against officers. The component also deals with social activities
such as annual law enforcement sports tournaments and queen contest,
etc.
The
National Executive Committee of LINLEA administers the day-to-day
activities of the Association under the leadership of a President.
The Association has a Board of Advisors who renders consultations
and advises on issues relating to law enforcement in Liberia.
The
current President of the Association is Cecil B. Griffiths.
The
Center for Criminal Justice Research and Education
The
Center for Criminal Justice Research and Education was established
by the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association in February
2002, with the following objectives:
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To conduct research on criminal justice policies, practices
and problems in Liberia and the African continent; conduct research
on the causes of crime and other social problems; and conduct
public opinion surveys and victimization studies to upgrade
criminal statistics;
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Prepare
training manuals and textbooks on criminal justice and related
programs for use by law enforcement and criminal justice training
institutions;
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Host
seminars, workshops, symposia and conferences on issues related
to the administration of criminal justice;
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Conduct
training programs for law enforcement and criminal justice institutions
in Liberia, and
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Provide
adequate data and relevant recommendation to facilitate the
development of sound policies for the improvement of criminal
justice system of Liberia.
The
Center in addition to its engagement in research activities is also
involved in professional and civic education for both criminal justice
practitioners and the public, and has conducted series of workshops
on leadership and human rights for senior officers of law enforcement
agencies.
The
center is developing plans to conduct training workshops in Policy
and Manual Development for law enforcement institutions, Instructional
Methods, Criminal Justice Statistics and Research Methodology, Due
Process of Law, etc. to enhance the capacity and productivity of
law enforcement personnel.
The Center and the College of Justice and Safety, at the Eastern
Kentucky University are working on modalities for future collaboration
in the areas of staff development, provision of training materials,
curriculum development, short training programs, and exchange of
staff.
The Association has a Board of Advisors that renders consultations
and advice on issues relating to law enforcement in Liberia.
Advisors
of LINLEA are as follows:
1.
Hon. Wilfred E. Clark, National Security Advisor to the Chairman,
NTGL
2. Dr. Edwin G.K. Zodwa, Criminal Justice Expert
3. Cllr. Marcus R. Jones - Legal Advisor - Assistant Professor of
Law, University of Liberia
4. Cllr. Frederick Jayweh - Legal Advisor - Human Rights Advocate
5. Cllr. M. Osman Kanneh - Commissioner, Monopoly & Contracts
Commission
6. Hon. Brownie J. Samukai - Former Director of Police
7. Mrs. Diana E. Davis - Deputy Minister for Social Services, Ministry
of Health & Soc. Welfare
The
Executives of LINLEA
Insp.
Cecil B. Griffiths President
Col. Francois R. Junius Vice President
Col. Roosevelt Sackor Secretary General
Maj. J. Zazaboi Miller Asst. Secretary General
Lt/Col. Betty B. Broh Treasurer
Col. Henry K. Zawu Representative/Private Security
Lt./Col. Joe K. Dennis Representative/Gov't Min. Sec.
Maj. Augustus G. Fully Representative/Private Security
Col. Benjamin Kpambu Advisor
Col. Asatu B. Kenneth President, LIFLEA
Col. Mai H.L. Bakalu Representative/Women
CCJRE
Senior Staff
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