penal system

Inmate caught with drugs

The Dirección del Sistema Penitenciario Nacional (SPN) has started a review of a prisoner work release program after a convicted drug dealer, who is part of the program, was found with two kilos of cocaine. Authorities plan to review about 70 of the work permits, which allows inmates to be released early as long as they have a job. The review will be used to determine if all of the permits were properly granted.

Inmate Porfirio Ardines Ortega, who is serving a sentence for drug trafficking, was arrested Wednesday on Avenida Ricardo J. Alfaro, near the San Miguel Arcángel Hospital, with two kilograms of cocaine hidden in a shoe box. SPN Director Luis Gordon said that the work permit granted to Ortega was authorized before Gordon took office in 2007.

Gordon said the review will include prisoners issued work permits both before and after he came to office. According to guidelines established by the Consejo Consultivo de Libertad Condicional, drug trafficking is among the crimes that are supposed to disqualify a person from being enrolled in the work-release program. The program is intended only for non-violent offenders who have served a majority of their sentence.

Ortega has been returned to La Joya Prison where he will begin serving the rest of his sentence. He has also been charged with possession of cocaine in connection with his arrest.