In Costa Rica, the Defensoria de los Habitantes (Ombudsperson) launched an investigation after receiving complaints from prison personnel, which brought about improvements to working conditions in Jorge Arturo Montero Castro Comprehensive Care Centre.

In 2019, complaints from prison personnel at the Jorge Arturo Montero Castro Comprehensive Care Centre that staff offices had been relocated to a building unfit for this purpose led La Defensoria to inspect the prison. A series of recommendations to the prison administration and the Ministry of Labor resulted, related to safety and health conditions for personnel.

As a consequence, the prison conducted its own internal assessment and has made changes, including by moving the location of staff offices. These efforts have contributed to SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth and more broadly to SDG 16, particularly by contributing to the development of effective institutions in line with SDG 16.6.