Public Defense Director advocates for humanitarian pardons for ill inmates

Santo Domingo.- Rodolfo Valentín, Director of the National Public Defense Office, has called for humanitarian pardons to be granted to inmates suffering from severe illnesses who have demonstrated exemplary behavior and whose crimes are not of a grave nature. Highlighting the constitutional authority of the President of the Republic to issue such pardons, Valentín emphasized the need for a fair and rigorous process to ensure that only those truly in need benefit from this measure.

Valentín proposed prioritizing terminally ill inmates, verified by the Ministry of Public Health, and stressed the importance of avoiding political influence or the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious crimes. He suggested that while a specific law on humanitarian pardons is being developed, the President could establish a commission of moral integrity to recommend suitable candidates. Such a commission, he noted, would assist in reducing prison overcrowding and allow terminally ill individuals to spend their final days with dignity.

The director also reiterated that the Executive’s authority to grant pardons on commemorative dates remains intact under the 2024 constitutional reform. He expressed willingness to collaborate with the government on drafting a law for humanitarian pardons, drawing on international examples, particularly from the United States.