Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica has long been seen as a peaceful oasis in Central America, known for its lush rainforests, vibrant wildlife, and welcoming culture. But recently, this tranquil image is being challenged by a rising wave of violence that’s starting to make daily headlines.
From increasing crime rates to growing concerns about safety, Costa Rica’s struggle with violence is becoming a pressing issue for locals and tourists alike.
Laura Fernández, the Presiential candidate for the Pueblo Soberano party (PPSO), points to a broken judicial system as part of the problem. She describes it as sluggish, unstable, and more concerned with shielding criminals than helping victims find justice.
“Today, we live under a flawed paradigm. We have a judicial system that, in too many cases, protects the criminal more than the victim. A slow and excessively precarious system that turns procedural rights into privileges of impunity. Justice takes so long that it ceases to be justice. Meanwhile, the victim is forgotten, and the criminal feels free to reoffend,” according to Fernández, who addressed the issue in an opinion piece in Diario Extra.
“Hitmen and drug trafficking are no longer marginal phenomena. Today, they are entrenched in our communities, sowing fear and weakening public trust. Most homicides stem from score-settling between criminal gangs that act as if the State has relinquished its authority,” the presidential candidate continued.
According to Fernández, 8,500 homicides were recorded in the country between 2010 and 2024, 5,000 of which never came to trial.
“There are 5,000 families who will never receive justice for the murder of their loved ones. We need a profound paradigm shift in matters of security and justice. The State cannot continue to remain weak in the face of crime,” she added.
Fernández warned that if the State does not firmly assume its role of guaranteeing the life, liberty, and property of its citizens, “others will do so in its place: armed gangs, mafias, or criminal structures that impose the law of violence.”
The statements come at a particularly critical time for national security.
Costa Rica has recorded 583 homicides so far this year, with the province of San José leading with 195, followed by Limón with 121, and Puntarenas with 108 as the most violent provinces.
If the trend continues, 2025 would close with nearly 900 murders, which would mark the third consecutive year of record numbers of homicidal violence.
Fernandez laid out a plan with five key goals: end impunity, create opportunities for youth, ensure final sentences for all murders, establish genuine control over territories, and implement urgent actions in the most troubled areas.
The aim is to return the State to its core function — enforcing the law firmly, maintaining order, and ensuring peace for everyone.
In her opinion piece, the presidential candidate was clear: “The State cannot continue to remain weak in the face of crime. The motto must be clear: whoever does it, pays for it.”
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