The new general director of prisons, Colonel Bernardo Santana Paez, told El Nacional newspaper that at least 800 inmates at La Victoria prison in the National District have served longer sentences than the law requires for their alleged crimes. Most have yet to be tried for the crimes for which they are charged. Col. Santana Paez, together with the new National Attorney, General Abel Rodriguez del Orbe, have pledged to speed up the judicial process for those prisoners who are charged with minor crimes and who have spent long periods of time in jail without court hearings.