Costa Rica: Procedure to report a crime to the police; whether complainants are provided with any documentation indicating that a complaint was filed
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 26 June 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CRI41678.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Costa Rica: Procedure to report a crime to the police; whether complainants are provided with any documentation indicating that a complaint was filed, 26 June 2003, CRI41678.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d880.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) – a body established by the United States Department of State to disseminate security-related information to American companies and groups active in other countries – while Costa Rica does have a "911 system" for the reporting of emergencies, "crimes discovered after the fact must be reported in person at the nearest ... office" of the Judicial Investigation Organization (Organismo de Investigación Judicial, OIJ) (US n.d.). This statement was corroborated by the Consul General of the Embassy of Costa Rica in Ottawa, who stated that "any victim or witness of a crime in Costa Rica should go personally to any office of the Judicial Police [OIJ] to report the crime" (Costa Rica 27 June 2003).
However, contrasting information provided on the Website of the Judicial Branch (Poder Judicial) of the Costa Rican state indicates that individuals wishing to report a crime may do so either in writing or in person at the nearest OIJ office (ibid. n.d.a; ibid. n.d.b). In the case of individuals residing in San José, such crimes should be reported to the OIJ Complaints Reception Office (Oficina de Recepción de Denuncias), located on the first floor of the OIJ building (ibid.). Those reporting a crime must present an identity document such as their cédula (ibid. n.d.a; ibid. 27 June 2003). The Consul General noted that complainants should also provide the authorities with the names of individuals whom they believe can assist in the investigation (ibid.).
The OIJ provides the following information on the procedure governing the reporting of crimes at its Complaints Reception Office: individuals should first present themselves at the reception desk where they will be given a numbered card (ficha) and be asked to wait for the duty prosecutor (fiscal de turno) (ibid. n.d.b). Once the duty prosecutor is available, he or she will interview the complainant and classify the crime so that the newly created file can be referred to the appropriate unit within the prosecutor's office (fiscalía) (ibid.). When the meeting is completed, the duty prosecutor will give the complainant an interview slip (bolete de entrevista) and ask him or her to return to the reception room (ibid.). The individual must then wait until his or her number is called, at which point a clerk will record the details of the crime and prepare a report (denuncia), a copy of which will be given to the complainant (ibid.).
According to the Consul General, all individuals have the right to obtain a copy of the complaint and to be kept informed regarding the status of the investigation (ibid. 27 June 2003).
The Judicial Branch adds that individuals wishing to cancel or elaborate on an existing complaint will not be interviewed by the duty prosecutor (ibid. n.d.b). Instead, they should merely obtain a card from the receptionist and wait until they are called by a clerk (ibid.).
No information on the procedure governing the reporting of crimes at OIJ offices outside of San José could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Costa Rica. 27 June 2003. Embassy of Costa Rica, Ottawa. Correspondence from the Consul General.
_____. n.d.a. Poder Judicial. "Servicios." _____. n.d.b. Poder Judicial. "Requisitos y trámites administrativos en diferentes dependencias del Poder Judical." United States (US). n.d. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). "Crime/Safety Report for San Jose, Costa Rica." Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases
Organismo de Investigación Judicial, Oficina Recepción de Denuncias
Internet sites, including:
Defensoría de los Habitantes
La Nación [San José]. 2001-2003