Crime In Nicaragua

NICARAGUA- Crime Upclose


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Nicaragua is the largest state in Central America, close in size to the state of New York. Of all of the Central American countries, Nicaragua seems to be richest with culture, religion, and music. Unfortunately, much of it’s’ beauty is masked by poverty that overpowers the countryside. Bordered by Honduras and Costa Rica, Nicaragua suffers through poverty and crime and is seen as a popular point for drug trafficking. Unlike nearby countries such as Guatemala, the Nicaraguan government does not experience political corruption. However, Nicaragua is affected by the corruption and crime from its’ surrounding countries.



According to the United States Department of State archives, Nicaragua’s crimes are similar to those of large American cities. The most common crimes consist of personal property crimes, namely burglary, robbery, and theft. In Nicaragua’s capital, Managua, street crimes and gang activity are on the rise due to influences of drug trafficking and its’ damaged infrastructure. Because Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, crime is often used as means to an end for many.


Nicaraguan National police (NNP) reports have shown that organized crimes are continuing to take place more often in urban areas of the country. It is believed that other surrounding, corrupt countries’ techniques are influencing the crime in Nicaragua. Well thought-out and organized methods such as using stolen cars and taxis with missing or false license plates and the implementation of larger groups of criminals operating together are becoming more common.

One of Nicaragua’s hot spots for crime is in Managua’s Zona Rosa area. This area tends to be frequented by prostitutes who have been known to pickpocket passerbies. Many of the prostitutes in the Zona Rosa area commonly use drugs and often carry weapons which causes the crime rate to rise in that particular area. In the Zona Hippos area, major hotels and upscale neighborhoods have been targeted over the last few months, according to the Department of State. Gang activity specifically targets American tourists upon arrival to Nicaragua. Gang members often pose as police officers in order to trap unsuspecting tourists and rob them of their belongings.


An example of a terrible crime that occurred in Nicaragua recently took place involving an American man who was wrongly imprisoned. He and his girlfriend, who was a native of the country, were living in San Juan del Sur when she was brutally raped and murdered. Eric Volz, her boyfriend, was accused of the murder of his girlfriend, Doris, and ultimately sentenced to jail in Nicaragua. The police wrongly assumed that because he was American, Eric Volz was responsible for the tragic crime. On December 21st, 2007, one year after being imprisoned, Eric Volz was released and let go of all charges. A four part Dateline Interview with Eric Volz describes the commotion and upset that this murder brought to the provincial town in Nicaragua and the upset that occurred following his trial.


The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) in Nicaragua advocates health, education, development, and family planning. The organization helps to fund the implementation of health equipment and services throughout the country. A blog written by Alex Marshall describes the high crime rate in Managua and the low number of actual police reports. According to his research, Marshall explains that violent crime is on the rise in Nicaragua because of its’ tumultuous history. The high levels of poverty and unemployment attribute to domestic violence in the area and the long tradition of machismo, or “male pride” triggers abuse among women.


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According to DisasterCenter.com, United States crime rates, including murder, rape, assault, and robbery have dropped a staggering 24% between 1991 and 2007. Nicaragua, luckily, has the lowest crime rate in all of Central America. 1990 marked the end of the famous "contra" forces that battled between borders.

In recent years, robberies and theft have been on the rise again in Nicaragua because of the level of poverty the country faces. Specific numbers and statistics are difficult to find, possibly because of how recent the crime trends have changed. Most data and research shows the positive sides of the Nicaraguan crime level, leaving out negative statistics. The U.S. Department of State website claims, "Violent crime in Managua is increasing and petty street crimes are very common. Gang activity also is increasing, though not at levels found in neighboring Central American countries. Violent criminal activities and petty crime are also increasing in the tourist destination of San Juan del Sur." Although they elude to the increase of crime, making a comparison between the United States crime rates and Nicaragua's proved to be a challenge.

Eating Local

If you’ve ever been to the Seattle Pike Place Market on a weekend, you already know the hectic rush of shoppers’ anticipation to get the best pick of the fresh produce.
Brought in from all over Western Washington, local famers and growers dedicate their livelihood to producing and selling crops. Whether they do it for income or for the quality of the food they farm, local famers depend on the community to sustain their trade.
The beauty of the isles of colorful food lined up through the market is deceiving. Farmers’ Markets like Pike Place has so much to offer, but does not meet the needs of consumers today. Step into a Costco or any other major supermarket chain and an entirely different atmosphere consumes you. Suddenly, you are struck with “deals” and “sales” and 6 months worth of frozen chicken.
Factory farmed, mass produced food surrounds the American culture. The debate these days not only revolves on health issues about factory farmed foods, but how economically and environmentally sustainably this way of life is.
The ethical debate between eating locally farmed foods and buying industrial, mass produced food has been growing over the last decade.
Factory farmed foods offer a huge amount of food produced in a small amount of time, allowing for quick turnaround to consumers. Locally farmed foods have been known to help boost local economies and use less natural resources, such as fossil fuels, in transit.


The debate between eating locally produced food and factory farmed food comes down to a few key factors. First, local foods are known to be nutritious and full of vitamins. Little to no chemicals are added to locally produced food but they are also more expensive than chain grocery stores.
Local foods are limited in their variety due to the different farming seasons. Having less variety inhibits many consumers because of our current expectation to have access to any food, anytime, anywhere.
Consumers have become comfortable with the millions of options. Convenience, price, and availability are a priority over freshness or health.


It is because of this comfort that farmers are suffering. Farmers argue that since the beginning of man, we have always farmed and produced our own food. Their livelihood and communities rely heavily on local economy.
Local farmers are stuck. They want to promote their products for being more natural, better quality, and healthier for people and the environment, but those qualities don’t seem to be getting many people’s attention.
Farming communities have used global warming as an example of why people should buy locally. Goods that are produced and sold locally generally do not have to be shipped, frozen, or delivered, so they use less gas and fossil fuel in the process.
Naturally, there would be no debate if there wasn’t a key participant from the opposing side.
Large corporations such as Wal-Mart, Costco, or K-Mart all suggest that their companies are improving the lives of their customers by providing quick and affordable varieties of food year round.
In order to offset the negatives associated with mass production, corporations like Wal-Mart have launched campaigns to give back to their communities and provide inexpensive services (i.e. prescriptions, vision care, etc.). In doing so, many large companies have created communities where their store is the only option for consumers.


The Organic Consumers Association’s “Breaking The Chains” (BTC) campaign falls into the ethical debate of what we eat. BTC is a movement that is trying to shift the focus on consumers from convenience to quality.
Their mission is not to persuade every consumer to buy the most expensive, most organic products, but rather to inform consumers about the food choices that they make. Their organization raises controversial issues, such as protesting businesses like Starbucks and “break the influence of big chains.”
All of these components combined, the issue of eating ethically can be argued many ways.

The ongoing war between eating local versus consuming factory produced foods continues between two battling New York Times articles. In July of last year, Susan Saulny published an article entitled, Cutting Out the Middlemen, Shoppers Buy Slices of Farms.
Her pro-local standpoint was discussed with overwhelming statistics regarding the increased number of farms, the growth of shares in privately owned farms, and the numbers of people that are refusing to buy from supermarket chains and have turned to local food.
The article focuses primarily on the positives of East Coast communities pooling together their money to buy shares in local farms. The idea that people are “skipping out on grocery stores and even farmers markets and instead going right to the source buy buying shares of farms” is brought to attention.

Community supported agriculture (C.S.A) is becoming a popular choice for people who want to get involved with their communities in order to sustain and grow their local economies. The lifestyle is referred to as being a “localvore”
Josh Friedland, and op-ed writer for the New York Times published a very different article nearly two weeks after Saulny’s article was published.
His piece entitled, Is Eating Local Earnest or Elitist? mocks the pro-local worldview, arguing that “Why not poke fun at the trendiness of those who want their food local, but don’t want to get their “hands dirty” farming. What a bunch of suckers.”

According the Saulny’s article, a program coordinator for the Fulton Center for Sustainable Living at Wilson College said, “People are seeing ways to come together and work together make this successful.”

As a Seattleite, there are so many different ways to get involved in the Green Movement. A Queen Anne establishment by the name of Eat Local (http://www.eatlocalonline.com/) offers locally grown foods prepared into take-away meals for busy families on-the-go.
Other related blogs surrounding the Seattle Eat Local movement include, WorldChanging Seattle : (http://www.worldchanging.com/local/seattle/archives/008238.html) and Eat Local Northwest (http://eatlocal.wordpress.com/)