Government Builds Nine Prisons at Once; Higüey and Barahona Are Ready

The government is building nine prisons at the same time, and two are finished. But Las Parras is still incomplete, and its costs have passed RD$2,000 million.

President Luis Abinader led the third National Meeting in Support of Prison Reform, where Roberto Santana, director of the National Office for Prison Reform Support, reported on the progress of the works. According to him, the government is building nine facilities at the same time. Higüey and Barahona are already ready, while work continues in other provinces.

Among the pending projects, Santana mentioned the San Juan center, which must go through a new tender, as well as works in Hato Mayor and Neiba, the repair of the Salcedo center, and the selection of a site for the Independencia province.

On San Juan, Abinader explained that the construction had structural problems and that the UNESB recommended not continuing under those conditions. He said the work needed reinforcement and a new tender, because the cost had exceeded the 25% limit set by law.

The president also spoke about Las Parras. He said that finishing it has already required more than two thousand million pesos, and that the work is still not complete.

Santana reported that the national prison population fell from 27,481 people in 2020 to 25,494 in 2026. He also said that last year, the 180 lawyers of the Public Defense managed to free 5,000 people deprived of liberty through their defense processes. He stated that the reform will continue with the support of some 700 organizations and individuals in the provincial support spaces. He added that the fight against corruption in prisons is non-negotiable, and mentioned the removal of 128 police officers from the system and audits of police posts.

Santana also claimed that the Dominican Republic is the only country where a committee brings together public and private institutions linked to mental health care in prisons. He said a first care space already operates in Najayo and that work is underway to open others. In addition, the International Committee of the Red Cross chose the Dominican Republic to present a new prison construction guide, developed through joint work by Mived, the Prison System, and the Ministry of the Presidency.

As part of the closing of La Victoria, Santana said the site is planned to become an Educational City with universities, polytechnic schools, government services, a theme space, and a cable car terminal.