In some of Honduras’ most violent cities, ASJ (formerly known as AJS) is confronting violence one difficult homicide case at a time.

How does ASJ prevent and respond to violence in communities in Honduras? Our Peace and Justice team is dedicated to gathering evidence, preparing cases, and ensuring victims and witnesses have the emotional support they need.

Since 2005, we have touched over 700 lives through the close cooperation of criminal investigators, lawyers, police officers, psychologists, information analysts, and victims and witnesses. In this special series from ASJ, you will hear from some of these key players who are solving murders and bringing hope to families in Honduras. We hope their stories will encourage you that justice is possible when we follow God’s lead and help you connect to the individual lives affected by this work.

Chapter 1

BRAVE WITNESSES are crucial to convicting murderers in Honduras. Some of these witnesses later become community informants, providing Peace and Justice staff with important information and insight about crime in their neighborhood, and helping to solve even more cases.

Chapter 2

INVESTIGATORS with ASJ’s Peace and Justice Project accompany police officers as they investigate a crime, helping them to identify suspects and know when they have enough information to issue an arrest warrant. Perhaps most importantly, they act as a trusted bridge between victims and authorities, giving witnesses the confidence to report crimes and share their testimony.

Chapter 3

INFORMATION ANALYSTS with ASJ’s Peace and Justice Project compile leads and evidence that lawyers and investigators learn through their fieldwork and from witnesses. With their digital database, they are able to analyze who a suspect might be and bring down criminal networks.

Chapter 4 

ASJ’s ultimate goal is to see government systems, including the POLICE FORCE, work well. The Peace and Justice project doesn’t try to do an end-run around the National Police, but to accompany them, train them, and help them to do their job better. This attitude is appreciated by police officials, who welcome the resources and expertise that ASJ staff offer – and the convictions that they are able to achieve together.

Chapter 5

ASJ LAWYERS represent vulnerable victims pro bono and sometimes advocate for years as cases slowly move forward. As they achieve victories in individual cases, they also show both citizens and officials that no case is too difficult to achieve justice.