|
With support from the United States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Michigan State University, in cooperation with Project Harmony, conducted training for twelve (12) Ukrainian and (4) American legal specialists, law enforcement officials and criminal justice educators to investigate public sector ethics in the United States and Ukraine. The program dates were March 2000 in Michigan and Washington, DC and June 2000 in Kyiv, Uzhgorod, Lviv and Odesa, Ukraine.
The program examined best practices for integrating ethics into democratic governance in the United States and provided real examples and case studies for the Ukrainian participants to study from. American participants benefited from a better understanding of Ukraine's legal and law enforcement systems.
The program succeeded in establishing a dialogue and commitment between Ukrainian and American legal specialists, law enforcement officials and criminal justice educators who are engaged in issues of ethical standards and conduct in their respective countries. This exchange succeeded in providing a better understanding of how government and law enforcement can improve public trust and credibility.
Segment 1 (2 days): Pre-Departure Orientation in Kyiv and Travel to the United States
Project Harmony and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (BECA) in Kyiv conducted an orientation program to familiarize Ukrainian participants with (a) the program, (b) one another and (c) basic U.S. social and cultural relations, especially as they relate to ethics and governance.
Segment 2 (11 days): Seminar and Workshop Program in Lansing and Detroit, Michigan
This portion of the program, conducted by Michigan State University, introduced Ukrainian participants to legal and law enforcement institutions at the local and state levels. It provided them with a basic framework for understanding the underlying meaning and implications of ethical standards in U.S. democratic governance and how ethical conduct is defined, monitored and enforced. Particular attention was given to the structures of ethics programs and the codes of conduct (e.g. education of employees, methods of enforcement, resolution of conflict of interest, etc.) used in the U.S. legal and law enforcement systems. Visits were made to the State of Michigan Judicial Council, State Bar of Michigan, Lansing and Detroit Police Departments, City of Lansing Human Resources Department, Ukrainian-American Bar Association of Michigan in Detroit, the Law Department of the City of Detroit and the Wayne County Sheriff's Department.
Segment 3 (4 days): Federal Seminar in Washington, D.C.
This portion of the program introduced participants to legal and law enforcement institutions at the national level and how such institutions address issues of ethical standards and conduct. It provided participants with an understanding of the relationship between national institutions and those at the state and local level. Site visits were made to the following institutions: National Internal Affairs Investigators Association, National Institute of Justice, Office of Government Ethics, FBI Academy, and the Ukraine Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Post Program Evaluation Trip to Ukraine (15 days)
Michigan State University selected a U.S. delegation of four (4) people representing a cross section of legal, law enforcement and academic professionals to travel to Ukraine to conduct a series of mini-workshops (3 days in each community) in Lviv, Uzhgorod and Odessa for eighteen (18) participants in each community. Project Harmony organized and facilitated the workshops.
|
