DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Following the signing by President Luis Abinader of Law 97-25 on 7 December 2025, the Dominican Republic’s new Penal Code will be published in the Official Gazette on Monday, 8 December and will go into effect on Tuesday in the National District and on Wednesday for the rest of the country.

The new code complies with Constitutional Court ruling TC0765-24 that had ordered amendments to Law 10-15 that had incorporated changes to Penal Procedures Code (Law 76-02).

Legal advisor to President Luis Abinader, Antoliano Peralta Perdomo summarized the far-reaching impact of the new law, stating that the Penal Code aims to profoundly modernize the justice system, driving a transformation based on celerity, procedural economy and specialization.

There was a consensus of the need to amend the penal code to adapt it to the times, yet the final output produced by Congress has been much criticized. Esta Noche con Mariasela panel looks into some of the controversial clauses.

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