New Dominican Republic Penal Code circulates, ending 142 years under 1884 Code

Santo Domingo.- After 142 years under the 1884 Penal Code, the Dominican Republic has adopted a new criminal code designed to address contemporary forms of crime and modern legal standards.

The new legislation, approved through Organic Law No. 74-25 and amended by Law No. 44-26, reorganizes the theory of crime, introduces concepts such as mistake of fact, and establishes criminal liability for legal entities.

The Code also expands the list of criminal offenses to include femicide, contract killing, forced disappearance, crimes against humanity and cyber harassment, while strengthening protections for victims.

A new alphabetical analytical index allows legal professionals to quickly locate offenses, principles, concepts and other provisions, making the publication a practical reference for judges, prosecutors, lawyers, academics and law students.

Dr. Félix Humberto Portes Núñez, author of the edition, described the new Code as a necessary step forward but also called for critical analysis of provisions such as sentence accumulation and increased penalties. He argued that punishment should ultimately prioritize the social reintegration of convicted individuals.

The new edition is available at Cuesta Libros on Avenida 27 de Febrero in the National District and at major legal bookstores nationwide.