Dominican prisons face overcrowding and human rights concerns

Santo Domingo.- Thousands of inmates in the Dominican Republic endure extreme overcrowding, with many sleeping on floors near unsanitary conditions. Over 60% of the country’s 26,000 prisoners are held in pretrial detention without charges, some for up to 20 years. Despite legal provisions for alternative measures like bail, these are rarely applied. Critics argue that the prison system remains neglected, with detainees suffering from poor health conditions and lack of medical care. La Victoria, the country’s most overcrowded prison, has over 7,000 inmates, far exceeding its 2,100-inmate capacity. A fire there last year resulted in multiple deaths, highlighting the dangers of the deteriorating facilities.

The Dominican government has pledged reforms, with President Luis Abinader appointing a commission led by former prison director Roberto Santana to oversee improvements. Santana, who personally experienced imprisonment under past regimes, has called for closing La Victoria and Azua Prison 15 due to inhumane conditions. Despite previous investments in new prisons, poor maintenance has led to worsening conditions. The National Human Rights Commission warns that the system is on the verge of collapse, citing a lack of proper healthcare and extreme overcrowding.

Corruption within the prison system is another major issue, with reports of officials profiting from illicit activities. A planned prison expansion meant to ease overcrowding has stalled due to corruption-related delays. The government aims to build 25 new prisons by 2028 to house 20,000 inmates, but challenges remain. Many prisoners continue to be held despite court orders for their release, often due to administrative backlogs or unpaid government fines. The situation underscores the urgent need for systemic reform to uphold human rights and improve prison conditions.