Thousands of inmates in the Dominican Republic are being held in severely overcrowded prisons, with some facilities operating at seven times their capacity. Over 60% of the country’s inmates are in preventive detention, without ever being charged with a crime, prompting concerns about inhumane conditions and lack of medical care.
Despite promises to improve the system, critics argue that pretrial detentions are allowed in nearly all criminal cases with no charges filed, and little progress has been made in addressing issues within the prisons. The country’s Constitution and penal code require preventive detention to be an exceptional measure, but there are alternative measures, such as bail, that are rarely used.
The Dominican Republic’s prison system is described as being on the brink of collapse, with rampant overcrowding, lack of basic facilities in cells, and inadequate medical care. Some inmates are ill with conditions like heart problems, cancer, and HIV, yet receive minimal medication. The National Commission of Human Rights called for the closure of several prisons due to the inhumane conditions.
Government corruption is cited as a reason for the slow progress in improving the prison system, with officials accused of benefiting from illegal activities. Despite efforts to improve conditions and build new prisons, concerns remain about the treatment of inmates and the delays in releasing those who have been legally freed. Inmates have been kept in prison due to court backlogs and financial constraints preventing them from paying fines ordered by judges.
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