The State Leahy Law was first enacted as a provision in the 1997 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (P.L. 104-208). Sponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the amendment prohibited the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (FOAA) from assisting foreign security force units implicated in gross human rights violations, unless the Secretary determined that the host government was taking effective measures to bring those responsible to justice. Initially the amendment focused on the State Department’s International Narcotics Control program. It was expanded in 1998 to include all security assistance programs that used funds appropriated through the FOAA.  A separate Leahy amendment was added to the annual Defense Appropriations Act.  The Department’s Leahy "vetting process," determines whether there is evidence of gross human rights violations prior to providing assistance.  

The Office of Security and Human Rights (DRL/SHR) is responsible for ensuring that the both the Department of State and the Department of Defense (DOD) comply with the Leahy laws. To this end, the Department has developed a vetting process and database called INVESTc (International Vetting and Security Tracking-cloud).  This system is used worldwide by all Posts.  The process requires:

• At Post planning security assistance.
• Coordination with host government, including gathering require vetting information.
• Inputting vetting requests at posts into INVESTc.
• Vetting candidates by DRL.
• Concurrent vetting of candidates by the regional geographic bureau.
• Resolving problematic cases by DRL, the regional bureau and Post.
• Maintaining records.
• Reaching policy and legal decisions.

The State Leahy laws also require that effective steps be taken to bring responsible members to justice.  The DoD law requires that corrective measure be taken.  This requires that DRL take the lead in:

• Analyzing whether the host government has taken effective steps or corrective measures, or
• Whether other historical events have the effect of making an otherwise ineligible unit eligible for assistance.

• Research, draft, and clear State Department responses to Congressionally-mandated reports, Congressional inquiries, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests pertaining to security and human rights issues, and serve as an advisor for others in the office on the clearance process.
• Draft, clear, publish, and implement ALDACs, bulletins, and other documents related to implementation of the State Leahy law and implementation policies, and provide ongoing guidance to posts in complying with these instructions.
• Advise on Leahy workflow at posts worldwide, reviewing posts’ Leahy Vetting Standard Operating Procedures and providing policy and procedural advice on routine Leahy vetting matters.
• Provide advice to posts on vetting best practices, based on existing policy, including the adoption of more unit vetting and proactive vetting.
• Promulgate changes to vetting policy and procedures to posts.
• Draft and clear Leahy Vetting Guide updates at State and DOD, including changes based on INVESTc deployment and future system updates.
• Update Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Leahy policy training materials as needed.
• Provide advice to posts on Leahy remediation policies and procedures, schedule and facilitate State remediation review panels, and review and assist in drafting State remediation recommendations. Routinely review and update the State Leahy Vetting Fast Track list, and provide guidance to posts that are added or removed from the Fast Track list.
• Routinely develop and update State Leahy law and implementation policy training materials, and provide Leahy-related training to a wide variety of U.S. Government, public, and international audiences as needed.
• Assist posts and the Department in complying with Leahy implementation related Office of Inspector General (OIG), Government Accountability Office (GAO), and other audits of posts and Department bureaus as needed.
• Conduct policy analysis and research and assists with policy recommendations in support of DRL/SHR policy, including but not limited to security sector assistance, arms sales, and human rights; security force conduct, gross violations of human rights, and accountability for abuses; civilian harm mitigation and civilian casualties; preventing and countering violent extremism; preventing and responding to atrocities; addressing issues related to children and armed conflict; and Women, Peace, and Security. To this end, participate in meetings across the USG and foreign policy community on issues related to security and human rights, and maintain relationships with key USG, civil society, and bilateral stakeholders and counterparts. Draft briefing checklists and talking points for DRL leadership; author congressionally mandated reports on security and human rights concerns; and coordinate with other agencies to schedule roundtable discussions on human rights topics and shared concerns.  Represent DRL in conferences, senior summits, and intergovernmental exercises.
• Serve as a DRL/SHR subject matter expert and advisor on laws, policies, and procedures including but not limited to gross violations of human rights, conduct and accountability of security forces, security sector assistance, Leahy vetting, arms sales, civilian casualties, atrocity prevention and early warning, preventing and countering violent extremism, gender-based violence, and child soldiers.

• Detailed knowledge of the INVESTc system.
• Broad experience in vetting USG assistance to foreign security forces.
• Knowledge of research and analytical methods to validate, evaluate, and interpret information obtained from a variety of sources.
• Skill in oral and written communications to prepare and present analysis, to defend recommendations and proposals, and to participate in meetings and discussions.
• Skill in using open source and classified information sources to map foreign security force units and actions geographically and functionally.
• Familiarity with individuals, organizations and other sources of expertise in the field of human rights in security assistance activities in the academic and non-governmental sector.
• Familiarity with drafting, clearing, and publishing cables, memos, reports, and other documents for the Department of State.
• Ability to apply these to participation in Bureau activities in order to promote the values of democracy and human rights throughout the world.
• Familiarity with security forces, military organizations, and equipment, especially of nondemocratic countries.
• Familiarity with the human rights and democracy records of foreign governments especially of non-democratic countries.
• Familiarity with Security Assistance programs.
• Develop thorough knowledge of Departmental organizations, functions, programs, relationships, and resources. Broad-based knowledge of organizations and programs that constitute the U.S. foreign affairs community.  
• Ability to develop professional working relationships with officers throughout the Department and with the foreign policy community.
• Proficiency in computerized tracking of action requests, and information searches – both classified and open source.
• Knowledge of research and analytical methods to validate, evaluate, and interpret information obtained from a variety of sources.
• Ability to plan and organize activities to independently accomplish assignments according to established policies and practices.
• Ability to establish liaison with officials in other organizations to provide opportunities for exchanging information of mutual interest.
• Skill in oral and written communications to prepare and present analysis, to defend recommendations and proposals, and to participate in meetings and discussions.
• Skill in using open source and classified information sources for geographical and trend analysis.