2023 was the most violent year in the entire history of Costa Rica, with a total of 907 homicides, that is, 17.2 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, which implies a 38.6 percent increase compared to 2022.

After the deputies returned from Christmas and New Year holidays, they approved 51 votes in favor and zero against a reform that restricts the application of the benefit of parole only to those who have served two-thirds of their sentence.

Current legislation indicates that any convicted person may request conditional release from a judge as long as half of the sentence imposed has been served; the approved bill, however, states they must serve two-thirds of the sentence for certain types of crimes. It also states that in the case of those who have been convicted of crimes such as simple and qualified homicide, rape, sexual abuse, human trafficking, robbery, extortionate kidnapping and other crimes of similar severity, only those who are left to serve a third of their sentence may apply for parole.

This also includes femicides and those who have failed to comply with the Law Against Organized Crime and those related to Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, Drugs for Unauthorized Use, Related Activities, Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism.

A new commission with representatives of the powers of the State entered into sessions early last December to address the situation of insecurity and crime that the country is experiencing.

The new group was formed after several disagreements between the Government and Congress on how to address the issue of security.

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