- Overcrowding in Dominican Republic prisons has persisted for decades despite government efforts to reform the system. To address overcrowding and improve conditions, the government plans to build 25 new prisons by 2028.
- A 2024 fire at La Victoria killed 11 inmates. It prompted the president to create a commission to reform the prison system.
- Advocates say 60% of the prison population is still in pretrial detention, with some inmates waiting years for trial.
Full Story
The Dominican Republic has long struggled with overcrowded prisons. Despite promises from government officials to reform the system, issues persist.
The country currently operates 19 traditional prisons and 22 correctional rehabilitation centers. However, overcrowding and unsanitary conditions continue to plague older facilities.
Dominican Republic prisons remain overcrowded
La Victoria, the oldest and largest prison in the Dominican Republic, is designed to house just 2,100 inmates but holds more than 7,000. In 2024, a fire at the facility killed 11 inmates, prompting President Luis Abinader to establish a commission to address the prison system’s deficiencies.
Inmates have reported ongoing issues, including abuse, drug trafficking and extortion in the country’s older prisons.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
Pretrial detainees face long wait times and legal delays
Reports indicate 60% of the prison population in the Dominican Republic is still in the pretrial phase, with some inmates remaining incarcerated for years before their trial begins. The most recent U.S. State Department report revealed that prison authorities often failed to bring detainees to court, resulting in frequent trial delays.
The director of the country’s National Public Defense Office told The Associated Press that some inmates have waited as long as two decades before being found guilty of a crime.
Additionally, unauthorized arrests, particularly of individuals suspected to be undocumented Haitian migrants, remain a significant issue.
What happens next?
Officials are working to address these problems, with plans to build at least 25 new prisons by 2028 to help alleviate overcrowding and improve overall conditions. The facilities are expected to house a total of 20,000 inmates.
