The measure comes after the seizure of 352 televisions and 238 microwaves in operations carried out in the prisons
The Minister of Justice responded that he would immediately convey the instruction to the General Directorate of Social Adaptation and the Penitentiary Police to execute the removal of all electrical connections in the cells.
The Government of Costa Rica deepened its hardline policy against criminals in the penitentiary system. President Laura Fernández ordered the removal of all power outlets from the cells in the country's prisons after a national operation allowed the seizure of 352 televisions and 238 microwave ovens that remained in the possession of inmates.
The decision was announced during the weekly press conference of the Executive, where the president asked the Minister of Justice about the fulfillment of the commitment made at the beginning of her term to remove appliances from the cells.
The official reported that the operation was carried out in all penitentiary establishments following the guidelines provided by the Government. As a result, 352 televisions and 238 microwaves were removed from the dormitories of the incarcerated individuals.
After hearing the report, Fernández asked if there were still any authorized devices that required electrical supply within the cells. In response to the minister's negative answer, she ordered to proceed with a new measure.
"Then, why do we have power outlets? Please, also remove the power outlets from the cells. There is no sense in having power outlets if they are not supposed to connect any electrical devices", the president expressed.
The measure is part of the security agenda promoted by Laura Fernández since she took office, with a strong emphasis on reinforcing order within the prisons and eliminating benefits that the Government considers incompatible with the objectives of the penitentiary system.
According to the Executive, detention centers must focus on ensuring the effective enforcement of sentences, security, and reintegration processes, avoiding privileges that have been questioned for years by various sectors of society.
With the removal of power outlets, the Costa Rican administration seeks to prevent the reinstallation of appliances in the cells and reduce potential risks associated with the improper use of electrical connections.
For the moment, the Ministry of Justice has not reported how many penitentiary establishments will be intervened, how long the execution of the measure will take, nor the expected timeline to complete the removal of the power outlets.
