YouTube channel guru Jose Peguero toured the Las Parras jail with Roberto Santana, the consultant on jails to the Presidency, as the Abinader administration prepares the jail built by former Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez to receive its first 2,000 inmates in be accommodated in the first of four quadrants at the large jail.
Each building has four floors, with washing machines installed in the first floor, a barber shop in the second, mental health office in the third floor, and deposit area for sheets, etc on the fourth floor. The first quadrant has a park and sports courts for the recreation of the inmates.
The jail with capacity for 8,000 inmates was inaugurated in the last weeks of the Danilo Medina administration in August 2020. Its construction was handled by the Attorney General Office under Rodriguez. Rodriguez later was accused of irregularities in the contracting and building, and major flaws in the minimal dignity for human habitation. Roberto Santana has been supervising efforts to bring the jail facilities up to international standards.
For instance, most cells had open toilets inside the cell for use by several people, too thin mattresses, and reduced flammability in materials used. This was corrected with stalls built for the toilets and new mattresses purchased. Mental health consultations are added for the benefit of the inmates.
During the tour, Santana explained how the order is zero use of cell phones, for the staff, visitors or inmates. He said this can be enforced if honest staff is employed.
Santana explained the intention is to keep the inmates constantly busy, with study and work schedules in the morning or afternoon, and sports and recreation time also scheduled. The inmates will be able to learn a profession, with the Technical Vocational Institute (Infotep) and the Vocational Schools of the Armed Forces operating workshops so the inmates can learn new skills to make a living once out.
Santana spoke of the objective being to prepare the inmate to return to normal life once the sentence is completed. New at the jail are also the opening of work opportunities with the free zones located in the area of Guerra where the jail was built. The inmates will be contracted for the work and paid. Of the total they are paid 20% will go to the jail administration, and then the rest will be deposited in savings for when the inmates leave the jail and another percentage will be transfered to a bank account for the use of family members of the inmates.
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Jose Peguero
10 June 2025