The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) has awarded the University of South Carolina’s Rule of Law Collaborative (ROLC) a three-year cooperative agreement to strengthen prosecutor offices in three Pacific Island nations: the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands—collectively known as the Freely Associated States. 

Starting in 2025, ROLC will assess the capacity of each nation’s Attorney General’s Office and lead strategic planning exercises to identify key areas for improvement. These efforts will focus on enhancing the recruitment and retention of prosecutors and improving coordination on transnational criminal prosecutions, particularly in cases involving the illegal trafficking of persons and contraband. 

Building on these strategic plans, ROLC will develop and deliver a comprehensive training program—both online and in-person—for prosecutors and their support staff. A tri-national strategic planning exercise will also strengthen regional collaboration and coordination among all three Freely Associated States. 

This initiative is crucial in fortifying legal systems and ensuring more effective prosecution of cross-border crimes in the Pacific region.