Attorney General says 60% of homicides stem from social conflicts in Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso called for a new social contract based on respect, values, empathy, and greater opportunities for vulnerable populations, arguing that many forms of violence stem from unresolved social conflicts.

During her lecture, “Anatomy of Violence and Crime in the Dominican Republic: An X-ray for a Necessary Transformation,” delivered in Bayacanes, La Vega, Reynoso revealed that about 60% of homicides are difficult to prevent because they are linked to interpersonal disputes and social conflicts. She noted that the country’s homicide rate currently stands at 7.2 per 100,000 inhabitants and lamented that lives are often lost over trivial disagreements.

The attorney general also highlighted the growing involvement of young people in criminal activity. Of the 236,783 cases received by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2025, more than 80% involved individuals under the age of 35. She stressed the need for urgent interventions aimed at youth, including reforms that strengthen values-based education and social development.

Reynoso further expressed concern over gender-based violence and femicides, noting that 73,295 cases reported in 2025 involved domestic violence, gender violence, or sexual offenses. She also warned about crimes committed by minors and called for a renewed focus on education that goes beyond academics to foster citizenship, empathy, and social responsibility.