The Dominican Republic government is set to construct 25 new prisons, marking a significant overhaul of the nation’s penitentiary system, according to Roberto Santana, director of the National Office of Support for Penitentiary Reform (Onaprep). The office was created during the past Abinader administration to retake jail reform in the country that had languished over the years, amidst complaints of major corruption again penetrating the jail system.
In an interview with Listin Diario, Santana explained the new facilities will have a combined capacity of 20,300 inmates, and will replace traditional prisons currently guarded by police and military personnel. The prisons will be built in locations that currently lack jails (Bonao, Hato Mayor, San José Ocoa and Jimaní) and to replace existing jails. Construction will be overseen by the Ministry of Housing, Habitat, and Buildings (Mived). The new jails will have capacity for 1,000 inmates and an estimated construction cost of US$12 million, not counting the land site.
Santana highlighted that the new prisons will be managed under a more humane model, emphasizing rehabilitation and reintegration into society. The government has already begun construction of new prisons in Higüey and Anamuya in La Altagracia province.
Key features of the new prison system include:
• Community involvement: Local communities will play a role in overseeing the prisons, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Educational programs: Schools and vocational training centers will be established within the prisons to provide inmates with skills and education.
• Mental health services: Increased access to mental health professionals will be provided for both inmates and staff.
• Job training: Programs will be implemented to prepare inmates for employment upon release.
The government has also outlined a series of initiatives to support the prison reform, including:
• Recruitment of new staff: Thousands of new correctional officers will be trained and hired over the next three years.
• Partnerships with other government agencies: Collaborations with the Ministry of Education, the Institute of Technical Professional Training (Infotep), and the state-owned electricity company EGEHID will provide educational and vocational opportunities for inmates.
• Addressing overcrowding: Efforts will be made to reduce the number of pretrial detainees and to identify inmates who are eligible for early release.
Santana emphasized the importance of community involvement and support in ensuring the success of prison reform. “We are working closely with local communities, civil society organizations, and government agencies to create a more humane and effective correctional system,” he said.
Santana had repeatedly denounced the deterioration of advances made in the jail system. Gradually, many of the remodelled jails languished and the trained staff was removed. It is good news that Santana is back in the helm of the jail system.
The government is also working to open the Las Parras (La Nueva Victoria) jail, the expensive proposition undertaken by former Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez to where the inmates of the La Victoria jail would be relocated. The jail was inaugurated by former President Danilo Medina shortly before leaving government in 2020, but numerous legal and construction issues have impeded the use of the buildings. The Las Parras jail was built to house around 8,000 inmates. Minister of Housing Carlos Bonilla has said the jail would open in the first half of 2025 with capacity for the first 2,300 inmates.
Meanwhile, in a parallel development, the new president of the board of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), Guido Gomez Mazara has said he is spearheading efforts to block the cell signals to impede cell phone communication for inmates. Speaking on El Dia on Channel 11, Gomez said that 85% of the fake calls are made by jail inmates. The blockers would be installed at the jails of Anamuya (La Altagracia), 15 de Azua, El Pinito (La Vega), and Rafey Mujeres (Santiago).
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
El Dia
10 September 2024