Court Orders Prison to Fix of Rat Problem
The La Reforma prison, in Alajuela, which housed for a time both former Costa Rican presidents Rodríguez and Calderón, has two months to get rid of the rat problem that has plagued the jail for some time.

The rate problem, that some call a plague, has invaded one of the modules at the prison, causing a major health risk.

The order came from the Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court) following an appeal by prisoner José García Pérez last August.

The Sala IV (as it is also commonly known) justices, in the decision, have ordered that the Tribunal de Ejecución de la Pena de Alajuela and the Ministerio de Salud Pública to make a full inspection of the affected areas within eight days and provide a detailed report and recommendations.

However, authorities at the prison, through the press office of the Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia, say they have not been notified of the court decision and will only speak on the matter once they have had a chance to study the decision.

The appeal before the Constitutional Court details the rat problem in Ámbito de Convivencia B, Pabellón D-2.

The justices are warning that prison officials who do not comply with the court order may face from three months to one year in jail.

The court decision also called for improvement to allow disabled persons easier movement while visiting family members at the prison, including the installation of ramps.