Costa Rica Opens 5,100-Bed Prison to Fight Gang Crime

Costa Rica is about to flip the switch on a game-changing prison that could help break the grip organized crime has maintained even from inside jail cells.

The country's new high-security facility, called CACCO, will be ready by the end of September and begin housing inmates in October. Justice Minister Gabriel Aguilar announced the milestone during a government meeting, marking the completion of a project that began just nine months ago.

Built inside the La Reforma penitentiary complex in San Rafael de Alajuela, the new prison will hold up to 5,100 inmates linked to organized crime and other dangerous offenses. The 22.5-acre facility cost roughly $40 million and was constructed specifically to address a critical problem: criminal leaders continuing to run their operations from behind bars.

Costa Rican investigators have documented cases of alleged gang leaders communicating from maximum-security facilities, coordinating crimes while serving time. Inmates at La Reforma have found ways to bypass cellphone restrictions and maintain contact with outside networks. CACCO is designed to end that.

The prison draws inspiration from El Salvador's successful maximum-security model, with Costa Rica adapting plans provided by their Central American neighbor. Five separate housing modules will each hold up to 1,020 inmates, with extensive surveillance, controlled access points, and separate outdoor areas throughout.

Conditions inside will be far stricter than typical Costa Rican prisons. Inmates will receive one hour of outdoor time daily and must wear specially designed uniforms without pockets, elastic bands, or cords. The clothing makes it harder to hide weapons, drugs, cellphones, or other contraband.

The Bright Side

Beyond cutting off criminal communications, CACCO addresses another urgent crisis: severe overcrowding in Costa Rica's existing prison system. The Ministry of Justice has identified the new facility as a cornerstone solution, alongside expanding electronic monitoring programs for lower-risk prisoners.

For communities impacted by gang violence, the prison represents something even more meaningful. When criminal organizations can't coordinate from jail cells, their ability to threaten neighborhoods, recruit new members, and maintain control diminishes significantly. Families affected by violence finally have reason to believe that putting criminals behind bars will actually reduce crime, not just relocate it.

The facility also demonstrates what's possible when governments commit to long-term safety solutions rather than quick fixes. Construction finished just a few months behind the original schedule, a reasonable timeline for a project of this scale and complexity.

As Costa Rica prepares to transfer its first inmates in October, the country is betting that smarter incarceration can succeed where traditional prisons have failed.