LONG IN THE FOREFRONT OF CORRECTIONAL REFORM, COSTA RICA HAS ESTABLISHED A DIAGNOSTIC CENTER FOR CONVICTED OFFENDERS, WHERE TOTAL PROFILES OF THE INMATES (PSYCHOLOGICAL, MEDICAL, EDUCATIONAL, ETC.) ARE DETERMINED IN ORDER TO FORMULATE INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLANS TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE VARIOUS UNITS OF THE CENTER. DAILY OBSERVATION OF THE INMATES BY THE CENTER'S TECHNICAL AND SECURITY PERSONNEL CONFIRM OR MODIFY THE PLANS. ADMITTANCE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC CENTER REQUIRES THE SUBMISSION OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF ALL OF THE INMATES' CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS ARRESTS, CHARGES, COURT ACTIONS AND DISPOSITIONS, AND CONVICTIONS AND CORRECTIONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING PROBATION AND PAROLE. INDIVIDUAL INMATES' FILES ARE COMPILED IN WHICH THE RESULTS OF THOROUGH MEDICAL, DENTAL, OPHTHALMOLOGICAL, PSYCHIATRIC, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS ARE ALSO ENTERED. THE INMATES' PERSONALITY PROFILES, INTELLIGENCE, SPECIAL APTITUDES, EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, TRAINING POTENTIALS, SPECIAL INTERESTS, FAMILY HISTORIES, SOCIOECONOMIC AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS, AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS COMPLETE THE FILES, TO WHICH THE OFFENDERS' OWN VERSIONS OF THEIR INCRIMINATING ACTS ARE ALSO ADDED. REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION ARE THE ULTIMATE TREATMENT GOALS. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)