Costa Rica prison system management and security

Costa Rica’s prison system has faced significant operational and human rights challenges. In early 2026, reports indicated severe overcrowding across the nation’s 13 facilities, with an overall overcrowding rate of 46.4%. Some centers, such as the Vilma Curling prison, operated at much higher levels. Additionally, approximately one quarter of the inmate population was held under preventive detention without final convictions, a practice human rights advocates warned might conflict with international jurisprudence.

By August 2026, the Ministry of Justice and Peace moved to terminate an agreement with the Judicial Power regarding virtual hearings. The Ministry defended this decision as a necessary measure to bolster prison security and optimize state police resources. The shift aims to allow the Penitentiary Police to focus on surveillance and internal controls, particularly due to the presence of high-risk inmates. The Ministry noted that while virtuality was used in thousands of cases previously, in-person attendance should remain the general rule.