In the Supreme Court there are internal differences related to penalties for drug dealing and the application of alternative measures.
Zarela Villanueva, president of the Supreme Court, declared that there are discrepancies about the possible change of penalties for these crimes and confirmed that there isn’t an institutionalized position so far.
However, Legislators such as Gonzalo Ramírez, from Partido Renovación Costarricense (PRC), disagree with the elimination of prison sentence for those who sell drugs in small amounts.
Villanueva said that the role of victims is important and an action that threatens the safety of victims cannot be issued. As consequence, the law should remain the same.
José Manuel Arroyo, vice president of the institution, is interested in a possible change in the penalties. However, Villanueva said that laws should continue to be fulfilled as they are established.
President Luis Guillermo Solís warned that policies regarding drug dealing will remain the same, they won’t be changed.
That does not mean that there cannot be a prevention policy to look for alternative sentences to alleviate prison overcrowding. I would not see this as a contradiction, but as part of a comprehensive solution,
explained the president.