American Expatriate Costa Rica

Government keeps parole benefit despite fears of more crimes

The government mantains a measure that award parole benefit to certain inmates as a way to reduce prison overcrowding, although some of the released prisoners have committed new crimes.

This weekend, a 25-year-old woman was raped by a man on probation. The woman had given birth a week before being abused.

President Luis Guillermo Solís lamented the assault and noted that the case is already under investigation by judicial institutions.

Solis also said this was an atypical case because most of the parolees have good behavior.

From 2010 to date,  1,270 prisoners have been put on probation and only 25 (1,9%) have lost this benefit for committing new crimes. These offenders were serving sentences for sexual abuse, child sexual abuse and dishonest abuses.

In April, the heads of six legislative blocs submitted a letter to the goverment, demanding a halt to the massive release of prisoners.

Source: CRhoy.com