To be Held Accountable: Police Accountability in Costa Rica

Abstract

This article focuses on police accountability from the perspective of police officers in Costa Rica. With the Public Force as a case study, it unravels police officer perceptions of the accountability process. By concentrating on internal and external police accountability mechanisms, it contributes to debates on human rights implementation within police systems. This is part of a larger effort to reform public security in Latin America. On the basis of empirical research the article reflects how police officers in San José experience being held accountable.