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Mounted police officers guard a beach in Costa Rica.
If you are concerned about violent crime in Costa Rica, you may want to consider moving to the agricultural cantons of Hojancha and Nandayure in Guanacaste. Likewise, you may want to stay away from the central canton of Limon in the Caribbean region and the urban districts of San Jose. This information can be gleaned from the 10th Statistical Report on Cantonal Violence and Crime in Costa Rica, which was recently issued by the Vice Ministry of Peace and Justice.
As recently reported by Manuel Sancho of CRHoy.com, the cantonal ranking of violent incidents and crimes against individuals and property shows a clear correlation between lawlessness and inadequate levels of human development. Crime incidence is higher in cantons where there are high numbers of students dropping out of school, high levels of unemployment, and a greater youth population.
The data compiled in the report comes from cases handled by the Organization of Judicial Investigations, a top-level law enforcement agency in Costa Rica. Crimes were classified into two categories: Type 1 crimes include carjackings, vehicle theft, assault and battery, homicides, armed or coercive robbery, and home invasions. Type 2 offenses are crimes against individuals and property that do not involve violent actions or intimidation; for example, financial fraud or sophisticated thievery perpetrated by cat burglars.
Two Caribbean cantons ranked among the most problematic with regard to Type 1 crimes: Limon and Pococi. Other cantons on this list include San Jose central as well as Alajuelita and Tibas, which are often considered suburbs of San Jose. The lowest incidence of Type 1 crimes can be found in the coffee-producing lands of Tarrazu and Dota, province of San Jose. Nandayure in Guanacaste is also pretty safe.
The highest incidence of Type 2 crimes was found in the Talamanca and Limon cantons. Interestingly, Tibas and Alajuelita are pretty safe in this regard while being at greater risk of violent Type 1 crimes.
It is important to note that the data this report is based on is current through 2011. Public opinion surveys and crime reports from Fuerza Publica, Costa Rica’s national police force, indicate a higher sense of security in the country. This heightened security is a campaign promise that President Laura Chinchilla has made good on, but it has come at a significant monetary cost and has also created a prison overcrowding issue.
