At the Americas Regional Conferences policy and strategy matters concerning improvement of police co-operation and the crime situation are discussed.

The preparatory work is carried out by the Americas Sub-Directorate, officials at the General Secretariat, and by means of contributions from delegations

The Objectives of the regional conferences are:

To identify real, specific crime problems that transcend national boundaries, that are found within all or part of the region, that are amenable to action or solutions on an institutional level that could not otherwise be achieved through action by individual NCBs.

Decisions might be taken which involve the development of activities related to basic matters connected with criminality.

The Conference has no constitutional power to adopt resolutions. Recommendations are submitted to the General Assembly for adoption.

The Americas Regional Conference takes place every two years:

• 20th Americas Regional Conference (Viña del Mar, Chile, 1-3 April 2009)
• 19th Americas Regional Conference (Bogota, Colombia, 25-27 September 2007)
• 18th Americas Regional Conference (Lima, Peru, 21-23 June 2005)
• 17th Americas Regional Conference (Mexico City, Mexico, 10-12 April 2002)
• 16th Americas Regional Conference (San Salvador, El Salvador, 26-28 May 1999)
• 15th Americas Regional Conference (Ottawa, Canada, 08-13 June 1997)
• 14 th Americas Regional Conference (Phoenix, Arizona (USA), 25-28 April 1995)
• 13th Americas Regional Conference (Santiago de Chile, Chile, 22-26 March 1993)
• 12th Americas Regional Conference (Sao Paulo, Brazil, 17-20 June 1991)
• 11th Americas Regional Conference (Panama, Panama, 7-10 April 1987)
• 10th Americas Regional Conference (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 18-22 May 1985)
• 9th Americas Regional Conference (Lima, Peru, 14-17 March 1983)
• 8th Americas Regional Conference (Santiago de Chile; Chile, 16-20 March 1981)
• 7th Americas Regional Conference (Quito, Ecuador, 28-30 May 1979)
• 6th Americas Regional Conference (Montevideo, Uruguay, 28 March to 1 April 1977)
• 5th Americas Regional Conference (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 6-8 October 1975)
• 4th Americas Regional Conference (Panama, Panama, 22-25 April 1974)
• 3rd Americas Regional Conference (Caracas, Venezuela, 10-14 April 1972)
• 2nd Americas Regional Conference (Lima, Peru, 10-15 September 1968)
• 1st Americas Regional Conference (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 14-15 June 1965)