Four new prisons, which will open this year, are expected to begin improving the conditions of the 24,700 inmates, who are distributed in 41 prisons with a capacity to hold 15,000. Of these, 9,000 have no space, and 4,500 sleep on the floor.
Roberto Santana, director of the National Office of Support for Penitentiary Reform (Onaprep), said that one priority is to remove 19 prisons from police and military compounds. These currently hold 14,000 inmates, more than 50% of the total.
These prisons are in El Seibo, Samaná, Nagua, Cotuí, La Vega, Santiago Rodríguez, Montecristi, Neiba, Azua, Barahona, Higüey, La Victoria, Pedernales, and Manoguayabo.
Santana recalled that as part of the penitentiary reform, the Government approved the construction of 26 prisons, of which four will start operating by 2025: Higüey will house 560 inmates; the first phase of Las Parras will have a capacity of 2,400; San Juan de la Maguana will house 900; and Barahona will house 74 minors. In 2026, there will be another six.
Santana spoke on this subject at the Corripio Communications Group Luncheon where he was accompanied by Miguel Hernández, coordinator of Penitentiary Infrastructure, Yanis Mejía, coordinator of Penitentiary Health and president of the Dominican College of Psychologists (Codopsi), Isa Medina, coordinator of Labor and Productive Activities and Graymer Méndez, in charge of Communications.
Main problems
Of the 24,700 inmates, 10,500 are in the reformed prisons, better known as the new model, and the rest, 14,200, are in the traditional system.
When questioned about the main problems that persist in the prisons, Santana said that overcrowding and/or overpopulation, the high percentage of pre-trial detainees, inadequate infrastructure and personnel, corruption, and human rights violations.
He reported that, just yesterday, he obtained mattresses for the inmates as part of his efforts to seek solutions.
The director of Onapre emphasized the issue of security personnel in traditional prisons since they are not trained for this work.
These personnel are made up of members of the Army and the National Police, who do not have the proper training to handle the prison population and obey a different command structure than the one that exists in the Attorney General’s Office. In addition, they are inadequate spaces.
“The prisons are in places that still have cannons, carbines and even war tanks, which shows the lack of planning in the penitentiary system,” he underlined.
Corruption
Santana said that a crucial issue that must be fought is corruption in both prison models due to the entry of various illicit activities. “The main battle of the reform is a battle against corruption,” said Santana, after indicating that it occurs at different system levels and must be confronted with firm responses.
He insisted on structural reform that guarantees dignified conditions for those deprived of liberty and improves security in penitentiary centers.
Santana understands that political will is what has been lacking for the prisons to stop being deficient centers.
He said that in 2003, the reform was initiated, and 17 centers were brought to the new model, but then support for this initiative fell.
He understands that there is now political will, and this is proven by the creation of Onaprep, which was part of several people’s historical claims.
He advocated that politics should not affect the current reform process and asked society to keep an eye on the Government “so that this does not backfire because if it does backfire it will be extremely painful”.
“The reform is a necessity for the security of society, out of respect for all the victims,” he said.