The Hemispheric Information Exchange Network for Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition (the “Network”) has been in development since the year 2000, when the Third Meeting of the Ministers of Justice or of Ministers or Attorney Generals of the Americas (REMJA-III) decided to increase and improve the exchange of information among OAS Member States in the area of mutual assistance in criminal matters.  To read about the origins of the network, click here.

The Network is composed of three components: a public website, a private website and a secure electronic communication system.

The public component of the Network (the site you are currently on) is a virtual library which provides legal information related to mutual assistance and extradition for the 34 OAS member states. By clicking on a country in the left-hand column, you can view a description of the country’s legal system, link to its basic legal documents (Constitution, criminal code, etc), and read the text of bilateral and multilateral treaties related to mutual assistance in criminal matters and extradition.

The private component of the Network contains information for individuals who are directly involved in legal cooperation in criminal matters.  The private site includes information on meetings, points of contact in other countries, a glossary of terms and training information on the secure electronic communication system.

The purpose of the secure electronic communication system is to facilitate the exchange of information between central authorities who deal with issues of mutual assistance in criminal matters and extradition. This system not only provides secure instant email service to central authorities, it also provides a space for virtual meetings and the exchange of pertinent documents.