LAW

ENFORCEMEN
T IN
ARGENTINA

In Argentina the most important law

enforcement organization is the Argentine
Federal Police (equivalent to the FBI in
the USA) with jurisdiction in all Argentine
territory. Most routine police work is carried
out by provincial police forces (equivalent
to state police in the United States). An
exception of the capital city of Buenos Aires
(a federal district), where the Argentine
Federal Police works with Argentine Naval
Prefecture (Coast Guard) and Metropolitan
Police of the Autonomous City of Buenos
Aires (Municipal police).

ARGENTINE FEDERAL POLICE

(POLICIA FEDERAL ARGENTINA)

MOTTO: Al servicio de la comunidad

To serve the community

AGENCY OVERVIEW
FORMED: December 24, 1943
PRECEDING AGENCIES:

Policia de Buenos Aires (15801880)

Policia de la Capital (1880-1943)

JURISDICTIONAL STRUCTURE
Federal agency
ARGENTINA
LEGAL JURISDICTION: as per operations
jurisdiction
GENERAL NATURE
Federal law enforcement
Local civilian police

OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE
HEADQUARTERS Departamento Central
de Policia, 1650 Moreno Street, Buenos
Aires
SWORN MEMBERS25, 000
AGENCY EXECUTIVES
Roman Argentino Di Santo, Comisario
General
Hector Eduardo Tebes, Deputy Chief,
Comisario General

ARGENTINE FEDERAL
POLICE

-is a civil police force of the Argentine

federal government. The PFA has
detachments throughout the country,
but its main responsibility is policing
the Federal District of Buenos Aires. AFP
duties in Buenos Aires have been
gradually taken over by a new force,
the Policia Metropolitan de Buenos Aires
(Buenos Aires Metropolitan Police).

Brief History
On July9, 1816, Argentina gained its independence from
Spain. Argentinas population and cultural diversity
incorporated immigrants from Europe, but mostly from Italy
and Spain. From 1860 to 1930, the countrys population grew
contributing to the last percentage of newcomers.
Throughout the mid 20th century, Argentinas pastimes were
controlled by political conflict between Federalists and
Unitarians and between civilian and military groupings. As
World War II was over, when Peronist populism and direct
and indirect military interference in subsequent governments
was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976.
Finally, democracy returned to Argentina in 1983 after failing
to seize the Falkland Islands. Argentina fell into severe
economic instability in 2001 and 2002. this unfortunate
instability led to aggressive protects and to successive
resignations of several presidents.

Economic Development, Health, and

Education
ECONOMIC GROWTH: Through the1960s
and 80s Argentina became a member of the
Latin American Free Trade Association. In 1992,
diplomatic and trade relations were
reestablished with Britain.
HEALTHCARE:The healthcare system is similar
to other systems in other Latin American
countries. The Department of Public Health
controls National Policy. In 1998, there was
was an estimated 108,800 physicians, 28,900
dentists, 15,300 pharmacists, 29,000 nurses,
and 11,100 medical technicians.

EDUCATION: Argentina has one of the highest

literacy raters in Latin America, only second to
Uruguay In 1993, Argentina switched from
seven years of primary and five years of
secondary education to a system known as EGB,
consisting of nine compulsory years divided into
three-year stages. This is followed by a threeyear multimodal course of study offering either
general or specialized training. In Argentina
there are officially 46 accredited universities.
The largest university in Argentina is the
University of Buenos Aires.

ELECTIONS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Chief of State: President and Vice

President
are
the
head
of
the
government.
Cabinet: The cabinet is chosen by the
President
Elections: The President and Vice
President are chosen on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms.

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The National Congress consist of the Senate.
The Senate seats 72 members whom are
elected by direct vote.
The Chamber of Deputies seats 257 members.
JUDICIAL BRANCH
Supreme Court: The Supreme Court judges are
chosen by the President; however, the
decision must approved by the Senate.
The Supreme Court consists of seven judges.
Congress passed a bill in 2006 to reduce the
number of Supreme Court judges to five.

TYPES OF GOVERNMENT: Argentina is a

republic. There are three levels of
government, federal, provincial, and local/
LEGAL SYSTEM: The legal system in
Argentina is a mixture of United States and
European legal systems.
CONSTITUTION: Argentinas constitution
was created on May 1, 1853. the
Constitution has been amended several
times beginning in 1860.
VOTING ELIGIBILITY: The voting age is 18
and voting is compulsory and universal.

COURTS AND CRIMINAL

LAW

JUDGES: Argentina has both federal and

provincial courts. The Supreme Court in
Argentina consists of seven (7) judges. The
judges have the power to declare any legislative
acts as unconstitutional and are considered the
central element of the process. Supreme Court
judges are selected by the President of
Argentina with the countrys Senate.
LAWYERS: Licensed lawyers in Argentina are
known as Abogados. Legal practitioners are
trained by attending law school and by
participating in a five-year law program.

PUNISHMENT
TYPICAL PUNISHMENT: In Argentina,
there have not been recent events of
capital punishment (hanging, firing squad,
or flogging).
IMPRISONMENT RATE: Argentinas
national imprisonment ranking is 71.the
prison population 54,472 and prisoners per
100,000 is 140.

PRISON CONDITION: The living conditions in

Argentinas prisons are inhumane and unsanitary. One
prison in particular is Mendoza. In this prison there is
lock of food and an insufficient availability of water.
There are not enough mattresses for the prisoners, and
the few existing ones are of horrible quality. Prisoners
are contained in their cells for long periods of time. In
Mendoza there is lack of medical staff that attends to ill
inmates when needed. Doctors did not visit the
prisoners nor were there any nurses, dentists or
psychiatrists who provided necessary medical attention
to the prisoners. In 2000, there were a total of 40 inmate
deaths that concerned government officials. In
Argentinas Constitution it states that prisons are built
for security not for rehabilitation purposes. Nonetheless,
many of the necessary improvements have not been
made and unfortunately inmates leave prison in worse
condition then when they originally entered.

JUVENILES: Economic issues in the region

cause high unemployment rates which are
a factor that contributes to juvenile
delinquency. A high rate of homelessness is
also a contributing factor. When a crime is
committed and a juvenile is arrested the
offender may or may not face charges in
Youth Court.

LAW ENFORCEMENT
POLICE STRUCTURE: Argentinas police is
decentralized including both federal and provincial
governments. The main priority of the Federal
Penitentiary System (SPF) is to provide safe
custody, guarding and necessary treatment of the
incarcerated prisoners. For instance, Argentinas
Internal Security System provides a structured
policy for 26 armed and unarmed police officers. At
the provincial level, each government organizes
and controls its police officers. However, in the
jurisdiction of the federal police are limited to
defined crimes. Whereas the provincial police
forces are limited to nonfederal crimes within their
own borders.

DIVISIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT:

The police forces in Argentina maintain internal
security by law. Two specific types of police
functions are:

Security Police: The services are related to

public order and safety, crime prevention
and control, criminal control and protective
administrative activities.

Judiciary Police: Strict policing activities

performed under supervision and related to
criminal investigations.

THE AVERAGE SALARY

Police Officer in Argentine, MI

$28,000
Police Officer Law Enforcement in
Argentine, MI
$65,000
Military Law Enforcement Officer
in Argentine, MI
$66,000
Upscale Security Officer Guard in
Argentine, MI
$21,000
Explosive Ordinance Disposal in
Argentine, MI
$122,000
Police Officer Recruit in Argentine, MI $55,000
Police Officer GL in Argentine, MI
$35,000
Police Officer Lateral in Argentine, MI $69,000
Special Police Officer in Argentine, MI $32,000
Traditional Security Officer Guard in
Argentine, MI
$20,000

Security Officer TSO in Argentine, MI $19,000

Custom Protection Security Guard in
Argentine, MI
$25,000
Security Officer Security Guard in
Argentine, MI
$20,000
Police Recruit in Argentine, MI
$49,000
Corrections Sergeant Master in
Argentine, MI
$40,000
Critical Facility Security Officer in
Argentine, MI
$26,000

Rank and Insignias