La Reforma Prisoners on
Hunger Strike
Some 500 prisoners at
the state penitentiary,
La Reforma, are on a
hunger strike, demanding
better food and living
conditions and citing a
number of abuses by the
guards as the reason for
their protest.
The prison, the largest
in the country, is
located in Alajuela,
west of San José, houses
3.000 prisoners.
The prisoners, who are
refusing to eat, have
also stopped attending
classes and work
assignments at the
prison's workshops.
In addition, the
prisoners are
complaining that their
family members have to
undergo humililating
inspections before
entering the prison.
The severe measures,
according to prison
authorities, are
necessary following a
number of escapes from
the prison and prison
guards finding
contraband items, like
cellular phones and
illegal drugs in
prisoner cells, smuggled
in during family visits.
The director of the
prison and officials of
the Ministerio de
Justicia y Gracia are in
conversations with the
prisoners to try resolve
the situation. |
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