Squatters Rights in the DR
A squatter has the right to obtain compensation for any improvements made in good faith on the property. Land acquisition through "usucapion" (land ownership through possession) can only happen when the land in question is not a registered property and if the squatters can prove they have been inhabiting it as theirs for an uninterrupted period of more than 20 years. This happens on very rare occasions as it only applies to non-registered land (most of the country's land has already been registered). However, in the case of registered properties the compensation mentioned above does come into play. Squatters can be prosecuted through Private Property Violation law No. 5869 of 1962, and face criminal charges. However, it has proven very difficult to obtain police support to enforce judgments that order squatters to leave the affected properties, so it is better to take the necessary steps to avoid the situation altogether.
In short, you should be very careful when buying property in the Dominican Republic: hire an experienced lawyer to perform all the required due diligence, this will assure you that a clear title can be obtained without any hassles, and never by any means leave non-built property unattended for long periods of time.