Minors now face up to 8 years in jail for serious crimes

Santo Domingo.- The Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday passed a law which increases the penalty to eight years, for minors between 16 to 18 years of age involved in serious crimes.

The amendment 106 votes to 9 by the deputies to the Juvenile Code had already been approved by the Senate, and also increases penalties from one to five years for serious crimes, for minors from 13 to 15 years of age.

Chamber of Deputies presidents Abel Martinez and Justice Commission, Demostenes Martinez denied that the new legislation violates any international agreement.

Martinez said the changes are the result of the frequent crimes now committed by minors, citing more than 5,000 cases just last year.