ZABUL, Afghanistan- Attorneys from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment legal office and law enforcement personnel from Combined Team Zabul and the State Department are working alongside their Afghan counterparts in Zabul province, Afghanistan to provide assistance in building government capacity of the Afghan judicial system.
“2SCR along with Department of State Representatives have partnered with the Zabul prosecutors, judges and prison officials to support the rule of law in Zabul province,” said Capt. John Hummel, operational law attorney for the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment.
In addition to training, Hummel said they are providing their Afghan colleagues with the necessary equipment and supplies needed to function more effectively.
“We have been adding to the existing infrastructure so they have automation equipment to help them perform their jobs better,” Hummel said.
The day’s training session was a crash course in forensic sciences that would make a diehard CSI fan proud.
“We are here today to provide them training for improvised explosive devices and how the forensics involved with that plays into their job,” he continued. “It is more of a class that we ultimately teach to the police because they are the ones who will be collecting that evidence,” Hummel said, adding “but we wanted the judges and the prosecutors to understand that … they can find DNA evidence on bomb-making material even if it has detonated.”
According to Hummel, providing the judges and prosecutors a better understanding of forensic evidence will allow for them to build a better prosecution packet for use during trial. Afghan colleagues are slowly developing a better understanding of how vital a tool of forensic sciences can be in fighting the ongoing war on crime.
While it is a slow process, Hummel said he is excited about the results the program will ultimately cultivate for the Afghan court system.
“We are eager to continue our partnership with the judges, prosecutors and the local prison system,” Hummel concluded. “It’s a very rewarding job. It is a challenging job, but very rewarding because you can see progress in this country. The rule of law is being accomplished and that we are doing the right things for the people of Afghanistan.”