Minister of Housing and Buildings (Mived), Víctor “Ito” Bisonó, announced a comprehensive urban redevelopment plan for the grounds currently occupied by the La Victoria National Penitentiary. Speaking on the morning news program El Despertador on 31 March 2026, Bisonó detailed a transition that will see the notorious prison replaced by a large-scale educational center and a low-cost housing project.
The redevelopment is contingent upon the total closure of La Victoria, a move facilitated by the upcoming delivery of a second phase at the Las Parras correctional complex. Bisono said that this year a second phase will be ready at Las Parras Jail to relocate all the remaining inmates from La Victoria. A first phase opened last year and received around 2,000 inmates. At its peak, La Victoria housed 9,000 inmates.
According to Bisonó, the residential project at the La Victoria site is currently in the design, budgeting, and structuring stage. The housing component is expected to feature a public-private partnership model, leveraging state backing to encourage private developers to build affordable units for Dominican families.
The transformation of La Victoria is part of a broader strategy to modernize the Dominican penal system and eliminate chronic overcrowding. Bisonó highlighted that 10 new correctional facilities are currently under development across the country. Key projects include:
• El Seibo & Azua: Construction of modern infrastructure to replace aging, overpopulated enclosures.
• Las Parras: Completion of remaining stages to allow for the mass transfer of inmates from La Victoria.
Read more in Spanish:
Noticias SIN
El Despertador (20:40 minutes+)
31 March 2026