Santo Domingo. – The president Luis Abinader assured this Thursday that the country is moving towards a deep and definitive transformation of the prison systemwith the active participation of society and the firm commitment of the Government.
“With this level of social participation and commitment that I see today, I can assure that the delicate and urgent process of penitentiary change is now irreversible, because it is no longer just a government, arranging, as we are doing until now, the construction of penitentiary centers, safe, humane and led by specialized civilian personnel, but there is also Dominican society, accompanying and monitoring so that the creation of a penitentiary model that gives us all peace of mind is maintained as a priority,” said the president.
By heading this Thursday the Second National Meeting for Penitentiary Reformin it Las Caryatids Hall of the National PalacePresident Abinader received originals of the agreements signed between the National Penitentiary Reform Support Office (ONAPREP) and various public, business, educational and professional institutions, part of which are in full implementation, reaffirming the will to continue strengthening the national penitentiary system on the basis of transparency.
The governor congratulated the 46 social, private and public entities that support the process of prison reform underway, and highlighted that this level of commitment guarantees that the change in the penitentiary system is now irreversible.
“Today I receive you for the second time and with great enthusiasm so that we follow up on the commitment to promote a prison reform like the one our Dominican people need, deep, serious, credible and generating safe citizen coexistence,” Abinader said.
The head of state especially thanked the prison reform support committees in all regions of the country, highlighting their voluntary and selfless work in favor of the security and tranquility of their communities.
“His responsibility and dedication make me proud as President of the Republic.”
You can read: Luis Abinader launches RD-Trabaja program: Decent jobs for all!
Likewise, he valued the participation of the private sector, professional associations and social organizations, recognizing that addressing the prison issue properly and without delay is a collective need that is impossible for a democratic government to ignore.
The president reported that coordination between 21 government agencies has been strengthened to guarantee effective work in all phases of the reformfrom habitability conditions and rehabilitation programs, to the social reintegrationwith the aim of avoiding recidivism, crime and violence in the community.
Finally, Abinader called on those present to continue this joint effort: “Just as I supported you personally since the first national meeting, today I again invite you to meet next year at this time, for more achievements, for more commitment and for more country.”
State policy that guarantees dignity, security and real opportunities for reintegration
For his part, the director of the National Office to Support Penitentiary Reform, Roberto Santanastated that with the response of the Government headed by the president Luis Abinader The time in which prisons existed only with the intermittent attention of governments has ended and said that the president’s leadership marks a turning point in the prison history national, by placing the reform as a state policy that guarantees dignity, security and real opportunities for reintegration for people deprived of liberty.
You can read: The Rincón lagoon is dying: authorities seek to stop its disappearance
Santana highlighted that the impulse given by President Abinader represents “the definitive closure of social indifference to the penitentiary drama,” and called on the entire society to accompany this transformative process, emphasizing that the time has come to change history and turn the Dominican penitentiary system into an example of humanity, justice and collective commitment, supporting President Abinader in his determination to make this reform a symbol of national progress.
Meanwhile, the administrator of the Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EGEHID), Rafael Salazar, highlighted that the prison reform offers a valuable opportunity for prisoners to contribute to the country’s environmental restoration, through projects in coordination with public and private institutions. He highlighted the success of the pilot plan in Los Cacaos and announced the next intervention in the Sabaneta basinwhile congratulating Roberto Santana for leading a model that unites social reintegration and sustainability.
Likewise, the president of the Association of Multiple Banks of the Dominican Republic (ABA), Rosanna Ruizhighlighted the leadership of President Abinader for promoting prison reform based on human dignity and social reintegration, highlighting that his vision has allowed the Government and the private sector to unite in initiatives that transform lives and strengthen social justice in the country.
Furthermore, the director of the National Public Defense Office, Rudolph Valentinhighlighted the humane and transformative vision of the head of state by recalling that, since the beginning of the prison reform, the president affirmed that every person deprived of liberty, regardless of their fault, has the right to have their dignity respected. He highlighted that this presidential commitment has been the driving force to promote a true transformation of the Dominican penitentiary system, with the purpose of guaranteeing that sentences fulfill their regenerative, educational and social reintegration purpose, and not undignified punishment.
Representing professional associations, educational entities, he spoke, Sandra Fernandez, who highlighted that, under the leadership of President Abinader, the Dominican Republic is moving towards a truly restorative justice, where the penitentiary system is conceived as a space for human and social transformation and added that this presidential vision promotes coordination between the State, academies and professionals in the area to strengthen the penitentiary server and provide real opportunities for reintegration to people deprived of liberty, thus reaffirming the national commitment to a more humane and effective justice.
ONAPREP signed agreements
The agreements signed between ONAPREP with private and civil society institutions and authorities, in support of prison reform, constitute a crucial step to transform the country’s prison system. Through Decree No. 456-20, penitentiary matters were declared of strategic interest in 2020 and in 2024, the National Office to Support Penitentiary Reform (ONAPREP) was created through Decree No. 240-24.
The purpose of ONAPREP is to direct and coordinate the efforts of the Executive Branch to strengthen the stability, modernization and reform of the penitentiary system, addressing challenges such as human management, infrastructure and self-sustainability. This effort seeks to integrate all powers of the State and society, promoting re-education, social reintegration and efficient management of the penitentiary system.
The president of the Senate, Ricardo De Los Santos, was present; the Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza and the member of the Penitentiary Reform Support Committee, Zaida Lovatón de Sanz; as well as governors, congressmen, mayors and representatives of institutions, private authorities and civil society.
