Criminal
Accusatorial process with strong pre-trial protections
The Criminal Procedure Code of 1996 established an accusatorial oral system led by the Ministerio Público. Costa Rica abolished the death penalty in 1877 and has no life sentence; the maximum term is 50 years.
Key rules
- Detention without judicial order is limited to 24 hours.
- Pre-trial detention is exceptional, capped at 12 months and extendable only by the appellate court.
- Alternative measures include conciliation, suspension of proceedings and abbreviated procedure.
- The victim may join as querellante and pursue civil claims in the criminal case.
- Free public defence is provided by the Defensa Pública within the judiciary.
Governing law
- Código Procesal Penal (Ley 7594)Accusatorial procedure.
- Código Penal (Ley 4573)Substantive offences.
- Ley de Justicia Penal Juvenil (Ley 7576)Youth justice.
In practice
Foreign nationals are entitled to consular notification and an interpreter at state expense. The OIJ, not the executive police, conducts serious-crime investigations.