Santo Domingo.- After several previous announcements, the General Directorate of Penitentiary and Correctional Services (DGSPC) finally began this Wednesday the transfer of inmates from the National Penitentiary of The Victory to the Correction and Rehabilitation Center (CCR) The Vinesin San Antonio de Guerra.
The facility was built more than five years ago under the management of Danilo Medina (2012-2020) to replace the deteriorated and overcrowded prison of The Victorywhich marks the beginning of its definitive closure.
A facility built for 1,700 inmates that housed more than 9,000
The head of the DGSPC, Roberto Santanaexplained that La Victoria was built in 1952 for 1,700 inmates, but it held up to 9,300 people, becoming one of the most critical examples of overcrowding and violation of human rights in the region.
Santana personally supervised the operation, the protocols and the logistics applied, and stated that this step represents a profound transformation in the prison system.
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“With this step, the definitive closure of the La Victoria prison begins, which over the years has become a shame for Dominican society and for the democratic system,” he said.
The official described the day as historic and assured that it should be recorded as “the day on which the transfer of those deprived of liberty from the La Victoria National Penitentiary began,” for what it means for human dignity and for institutional strengthening.
“We all know about the sad past of that facility,” he added.
First phase: 2,400 inmates evaluated and selected
Santana pointed out that, although different governments tried to close La Victoria, this is the first real and definitive progress towards that objective, and urged citizens to remain vigilant to prevent a similar situation from being repeated in the future.
In this first stage, 2,400 inmates will be transferred to CCR Las Parras. The selection was carried out by a multidisciplinary team that evaluated the legal conditions, conduct, abilities and skills of each inmate.
The transfers will be made in groups of 300 until the planned total is completed.
