Ferguson Madison arrested after irregular prison release

Ferguson Madison, a 36-year-old inmate, has been arrested after being irregularly released from the Carlos Luis Fallas prison in Pococí. Madison had been serving a sentence and was subject to a new eight-year conviction for drug possession for distribution within a penal center, along with preventive detention ordered until April 2027.

The release occurred because a Ministry of Justice official failed to review an email notification regarding Madison's updated judicial status. The error was only discovered the following day by another staff member. Following his release on October 12, Madison became a fugitive until he surrendered to the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) in Limón.

In response to the incident, the Ministry of Justice and Peace has ordered investigations into the prison director and involved staff. The Ministry has initiated disciplinary processes, warning of potential dismissals for negligence, and has filed criminal complaints with the Public Ministry to determine legal responsibility.