Jurists have differing opinions regarding the imposition of life sentences for very serious offenders. Servio Tulio Castanos, the director of the Foundation for Institutionality and Justice (FINJUS), told reporters from the Listin Diario that re-introducing life sentences and imposing stricter sentences would not solve the current issues of rising criminality and violence. This is the general feeling of those that oppose the review of the Penal Code Process law currently under debate in the National Congress.
The Attorney General, Francisco Dominguez Brito (currently on a leave of absence) feels that the most serious crimes deserve a life sentence. In his comments, Dominguez Brito said that the project is in the hands of the congressional committee headed by deputy Jose Ricardo Taveras, and is a well-intentioned piece of legislation. However, he urged that the congressmen look at repeat offenders and the very worst offenses.
Those who oppose harsher sentences say that the key to solving the current crisis rests in the prevention of crime and the re-insertion (re-education) of criminals into society, and the strengthening of the various sectors of the justice system.
The District Attorney for Santo Domingo, Jose Manuel Hernandez said that increasing the prison terms was not an effective deterrent to criminal activity, and he espoused education and guidance on the one hand and focusing on the causes of crime on the other.
Porfirio Rojas Nina, the Human Rights Commissioner for the Dominican Republic, told reporters that he proposes a 60-year maximum sentence instead of the current 40 year maximum. He pointed out that four years ago he had given the Congress a proposal to stiffen the sentencing guidelines and it had included life sentences.