[1][2] In some cases, a representative of the Public Prosecutor's Office may have the authority to request that the criminal prosecution be limited to certain offences or persons who participated in the act.
The office may also intervene in criminal enforcement proceedings, in the civil defence of the victim when appropriate, and assume the other functions assigned to it by law.
[3] Because the Public Prosecutor's Office of Costa Rica was created by a legislative act, it is therefore not a part of the constitutional organisation of the government.
Her predecessor, Jorge Chavarría Guzmán, held the position from 2010 until 2017 when he was forced to resign due to allegations that he concealed evidence in relation to "el Cementazo", a political scandal.
Any member of the public may have a lawyer assigned to them, free of charge, who takes the necessary steps to ensure that the accused or responsible party pays for the damages caused.