ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis affecting all spheres of life. Costa Rica is no stranger to the consequences of the pandemic. The penitentiary system is one that has been severely affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19, increasing the critical situation of overcrowding and overpopulation of prisons and detention centres. This chapter describes the general situation of the penitentiary system, prison and penal policy concerning the execution of sentences, restrictions within the prison and the outside world, compensatory measures and the legal basis for the restrictions and measures to increase flexibility. The chapter concludes with a description of the lasting effects that the pandemic may have after the return to “normal”.
