The director of Penitentiary Services, Roberto Santana, reported that between April and June, those deprived of liberty who are still in the La Victoria National Penitentiary will be transferred to the Las Parras prison.
After the signing of an extrategic collaboration agreement with the Dominican Confederation of Evangelical Unity (Codue), the official explained that it is not possible to transfer around five thousand prisoners at once, because “they would be transferring the same problem to the new prison facility.”
“If I transfer them all together, without the possibility of evaluating them, what I’m going to do is set up La Victoria in the new center; then, I have to take them little by little, I evaluate them, I profile them, and when a group is ready, I take it out and then I continue with the other group, so on,” Santana explained.
He recalled that he began the process with 200 prisoners, then with 300 and now he is evaluating 400, but that the numbers will be increased when the Ministry of Housing and Buildings and the construction company deliver the second quadrant of Las Parras, to house 2,400 extra prisoners, between April and June.
The agreement
The National Office of Support for Penitentiary Reform (Onaprep), headed by Santana and Codue, agreed to promote joint initiatives aimed at the comprehensive development of prisoners. It includes social inclusion, health, education, participation and prevention of violence, to enhance opportunities and capacities, especially in the youth population of the prison system.
Among the relevant aspects of the pact, social inclusion stands out: facilitating access to academic training programs, study scholarships at different educational levels and personal development opportunities that promote full reintegration into society.
The agreement was signed by Santana and Pastor Feliciano Lacen Custodio, president of Codue, in an event held at the religious organization’s headquarters, with the presence of members of both institutions.
One of the most repeated requests is the improvement of the living conditions of the prisoners, given the precariousness in which they cohabit.
