Combating Organized Crime in Costa Rica

Criminal Justice and Security

Costa Rica’s approach to combating organized crime involves a complex system of institutions and agencies. Understanding the country’s judiciary, prisons, law enforcement agencies, and security policies is crucial to grasping its efforts to tackle this issue.

Judiciary and Law Enforcement Agencies

Supreme Court: The highest court in Costa Rica, responsible for interpreting laws and resolving conflicts between government branches.
Appeals Courts and District Courts: Lower courts that handle appeals and try cases at the local level.
Office of the Public Prosecutor (Ministerio Público): Determines the scope of investigations and pursues charges against individuals suspected of crimes.
OIJ (Organismo de Investigación Judicial): Responsible for conducting criminal investigations, gathering evidence, and interviewing witnesses.

Prisons and Security Concerns

Costa Rica’s prisons are overcrowded due to preventive detention and issues with smuggling of cell phones or drugs by gangs.
The country relies on the national police as its main security agency, without a military presence.

Economic and Financial Environment

While Costa Rica has made efforts to combat money laundering, it remains a hub for these activities. The construction industry, financial institutions, casinos, and currency exchange houses are primary channels for money laundering.

Challenges and Efforts

High foreign direct investment: Has contributed significantly to Costa Rica’s economic growth.
Rising operating costs, challenging legal environment, and infrastructure deficiencies: Affect the country’s ability to combat organized crime and maintain security.

Costa Rica has implemented various initiatives to support victims and witnesses of crime. These programs include:

Victim and Witness Protection

Victim and witness protection unit of the OIJ: Provides support for victims and witnesses of crime.
Office of attention for crime victims: Offers free and confidential protection, individual and group psychological care, social assistance, legal advice, and referrals to social support networks and health care institutions.

Prevention Programs

Costa Rica has three main prevention programs under the Ministry of Public Security. These initiatives focus on preventing youth violence and criminal activity.

Efforts to Combat Organized Crime

The “Sembremos Seguridad” security plan aims to combat organized crime and violence through public policy and citizen engagement. Additionally, the Foundation for Peace and Democracy has implemented a project to improve police capacity to prevent youth violence and criminal activity.

Challenges Ahead

Overcrowding in prisons: A significant challenge that affects the country’s ability to maintain security.
Smuggling of cell phones or drugs by gangs: Continues to be an issue, compromising prison security.
Limited capacity to halt drug trafficking syndicates from further infiltrating the legal economy: A pressing concern for Costa Rica’s economic stability and security.
Rising operating costs, challenging legal environment, and infrastructure deficiencies: Continue to pose challenges for the country’s efforts to combat organized crime.