Relocation efforts following La Victoria Prison fire tragedy

Santo Domingo.- The General Directorate of Penitentiary and Correctional Services (DGSPC) announced on Wednesday that following the tragic fire at La Victoria Correctional Center, resulting in the loss of 13 lives, approximately 580 inmates have been relocated to prisons across the provinces of La Vega, Duarte (San Francisco), and La Altagracia (Higüey).

Roberto Hernández, the General Director of Prisons, disclosed that 300 inmates were transferred to El Pinito prison in La Vega, 100 to the Vista del Valle Correction and Rehabilitation Center in San Francisco de Macorís, and 180 to the CCR-14 Correction and Rehabilitation Center of Anamuya in Higüey.

Rodolfo Espiñeira, Deputy Attorney General, clarified that these transfers are being coordinated with the sentencing judges to ensure compliance with jurisdictional requirements. He also noted that the matter has been raised with the Judiciary to consider the situation in imposing additional coercive measures, given the current prison overcrowding and space constraints exacerbated by the La Victoria tragedy.

Authorities have confirmed that the fire was caused by a short circuit. Additionally, 1,300 inmates have been relocated to unaffected areas within the La Victoria prison, which was constructed in the 1950s.

A report published last year by the National Public Defense Office highlighted that La Victoria currently accommodates 7,625 inmates, far exceeding its intended capacity of 2,103 inmates.