Deputies approve a tougher Penal Code

Santo Domingo.- The Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday approved the amendment to stiffen the Penal Code in a first round of voting and scheduled the final vote on Wednesday.

Among the new penalties figure raising prison sentences to 40 years; concurrent penalties as high as 60 years in prison; it penalizes land invasion and occupation; from 20 to 30 years for kidnapping, and minimums sentences of 4 to10 years adults who use children to commit crimes.

Abortion

Abortion will also be punished with from 2 to 3 years and includes women who induce or a person who helps. If a doctor, nurse, midwife, surgeon, pharmacist or other professional helps induce an abortion, the penalty would be from 4 to 10 years.