On February 27th, the electronic surveillance of prisoners officially started: it is being conducted through ankle bracelets (anklets) that are already being used by 8 people.
According to the Ministry of Justice, 860 million colones were invested for the acquisition of 270 devices.
People who may wear the bracelets are prisoners with less-than-6-year sentences, without criminal records, as well those who have precautionary or house arrest measures.
However, the Ministry of Justice is aware that the devices will not solve the problem of overcrowding in Costa Rican prisons.
These bracelets will allow authorities to monitor detainees from a monitoring center where 20 people work.
Vice minister of Justice Marco Feoli explained that in the case of house arrest, sanctioned people will have the opportunity to socialize and may go to work and study in areas limited by judges.
The Ministry intends to invest 500 million colones to acquire more devices by the end of 2017.