Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito says that President Danilo Medina will shortly announce plans for improving security and safety in the country. The new policy consists of four key concepts: crime prevention, effectiveness of the criminal investigation and legal system, police reform and strengthening the new model prison system.
Dominguez Brito was speaking about security in the country to executives and representatives of DR-based US companies, at a meeting organized by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) at a Santo Domingo hotel yesterday, Wednesday 30 January.
He said that the prevention concept already established includes the ‘Living Peacefully’ (Vivir Tranquilo) program announced by the President as soon as he took office, when he said that he wanted to carry out social and educational work in a new way.
The new system will also prevent crime by extending the school day, starting in neighborhoods with the highest levels of violence, and the establishment of day care centers for children of informal and street workers.
He went on to say that when it came to carrying and owning firearms, he wanted them all banned apart from the National Police, the Armed Forces and other government security entities, which should only be allowed to use them in the course of their duties.
Brito stressed that 30% of the homicides arose from family conflicts, crimes of passion and alcohol and that 11% of homicides occurred when trying to disarm the victim who was holding a firearm.
He also said they wished to prevent domestic violence, which reached a level of 66,000 cases last year.
When it came to criminal investigations, he said that the system needed improving across the board, from the professionalism of investigators, to the justice system with emphasis on the terms of remand, bail and other sentences for people involved in drug trafficking, robbery, assault, murder and other crimes which led to a state of public insecurity.
He said that the police needed to be able to investigate efficiently, be professional, ethical and free from corruption and to follow new procedures both in human resources and administration.
Dominguez Brito criticized the practice by members of the Armed Forces and Police who give firearms as gifts to politicians and businesspeople to seek their favor and obtain protection and favors, as reported in Hoy. He said this practice has been taking place for around three decades and it explains the high caliber weapons that are used in political confrontations, like the recent incident at the PRD National HQ.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2013/1/30/264133/Dominguez-Brito-dice-que-la-nueva-politica-de-seguridad-del-Gobierno-se
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2013/1/30/464986/Procurador-anunciapolitica-de-seguridad