SANTO DOMINGO.-President Luis Abinader promulgated the new Penal Code of the Dominican Republic, marking an advance that replaces the legislation that had been in force since 1884.
After decades of failed attempts, this new Penal Code updates a 141-year-old, which was approved by the majority political parties.
The new Penal Code, which can be described as a step forward, stands as a key element for protecting individual rights, strengthening public safety , and effectively prosecuting crimes. Among its most significant advances are:
– The classification of new crimes such as femicide, contract killing, cyberbullying, economic violence, the dissemination of deepfakes for blackmail purposes, pyramid schemes, unregulated financial intermediation, incitement to suicide; all conventional assumptions of crimes against humanity and genocide are classified, as well as forced disappearance, crimes with eventual intent and conscious negligence, damages due to doping, self-kidnapping, false reporting, obstruction of justice , and the penalty for sexual rape within marriage or in relationships is increased.
– The increase in prison sentences to up to 40 years, and even up to 60 years in the case of multiple serious offenses.
-The creation of socio-judicial measures, which include post-sentence monitoring, registration of sex offenders and re-education programs for the social reintegration of offenders.
– The criminal liability of legal entities, which allows for the sanctioning of legal entities that, through negligence or acts of their representatives, commit crimes.
- Stronger protection orders for victims of gender violence, domestic violence, or any aggression that threatens their safety.
Furthermore, the new law strengthens the fight against administrative corruption by extending the statute of limitations, increasing penalties, and disqualifying those responsible for committing this crime from holding public office.
The reform also extends the statute of limitations for sexual offenses against minors and vulnerable people to 30 years, counted from when the victim reaches the age of majority.
The promulgated Penal Code, in addition to imposing sanctions, incorporates a preventive and resocializing approach, recognizing citizen security as a shared responsibility between the State and society as a whole.
This update provides the Dominican penal system with modern tools to confront crime in all its forms, including organized crime, and to guarantee the effective protection of victims, in accordance with the principles of a social and democratic state governed by the rule of law.
With the promulgation of the new Penal Code, which will come into effect in 12 months, the Dominican Republic leaves behind an anachronistic regulatory framework and moves towards a modern justice model, focused on the protection of human rights.
The newly enacted Penal Code is available for reading and download at the following link: https://www.consultoria.gov.do/consulta/
