He system of justice Dominican Republic is in crisis, and this not only affects those who work there, such as judges, prosecutors and lawyers, but also to the victims and perpetrators who depend on a system efficient that guarantees your rights.
The precariousness experienced by the prosecutor’s offices and palaces of justiceespecially those of Greater Santo Domingo, is reflected in every hallway, window, door and face of those who come, hungry and thirsty for justice.
The judicial delay It seriously affects critical jurisdictions, such as criminal jurisdiction, where 44% of courts have delays. According to the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Luis Henry Molina, the system Criminal represents 48% of the country’s judicial cases. The transformation of this area is an urgent challenge that faces multiple barriers and structural limitations.
“There are hundreds of stories that illustrate the hopelessness and uncertainty generated by pending cases,” said Molina during the commemorative event for the Day of the Judiciary, on January 8.
In search of a way out of this situation, the Association of Prosecutors Dominicans (Fiscaldom) have raised their voices. For months, this institution has warned about the working conditions of judges and prosecutorsas well as the multiple deficiencies in infrastructure that affect access to a justice effective.
Inequality wage and rights unfulfilled
One of the main criticisms of the prosecutors focuses on the abysmal difference wage between judges and prosecutorsa situation that contravenes the law that mandates equality or competitiveness wage inside the system judicial. Furthermore, the prosecutors they lack a pension fund and a retirement plan, rights established in legislation, but never implemented.
Francisco Rodríguez, executive coordinator of Fiscaldomemphasizes that, since 2011, the Law Organic of the Public Ministry (Law 133) has granted rights to the prosecutors that have not been met, with the exception of the annual bonuses. Rodríguez describes this as a historical debt recognized even by the Attorney General, Miriam Germán.
He salary of a judge in the Dominican Republic varies according to his level and seniority, and ranges between 125,000.00 pesos and 289,843.75 pesos. In April 2024, an increase was made to the salary of prosecutors in the country, going from 70,000 pesos to 90,000.00 pesos. Additionally, they receive an additional 10% of their salary for fuel and two annual bonuses.
Deplorable conditions in the infrastructure judicial
In Greater Santo Domingo, many prosecutor’s offices operate in undignified conditions. An obvious example is the Fiscal Attorney’s Office of the Santo Domingo Province, located on Avenida Charles de Gaullewhere the judges of instruction perform their functions in vans. This situation is also observed in the Municipal Court of Santo Domingo Norte, where coercive measures hearings are held in similar facilities.
The Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal of the Judicial Department of Santo Domingo, located in Los Mameyes, also does not present improvements. This building, adapted from the old Children’s and Adolescents’ courts, has serious space and infrastructure. Narrow metal stairs represent a risk to the safety of those involved, victims, lawyers, judges and prosecutors. The rooms are so small that they can barely accommodate 20 people during public hearings.
“Sometimes one comes with defendants who have conditions that prevent them from climbing stairs and the conditions are not ready for them to go up to the courtrooms and they have to be carried and it becomes uncomfortable to climb them because they are mistreated as human beings,” denounced the lawyer Álamo Cabrera, defender of Human Rights, who called for resolving the situation.
In the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeals of the Judicial Department of Saint Dominiclocated in The Mameyes The outlook does not improve. This building, adapted from the old Boys, Girls and Adolescents courts, presents serious problems of space and infrastructure. The narrow metal stairs put at risk the safety of those involved, victims, lawyers, judges and prosecutorsand the rooms are so small that they can barely accommodate 20 people during public hearings.
Overcrowding and conditions unhealthy
At the Ciudad Nueva Courthouse, conditions are also worrying. The bathrooms are in poor condition and emit unpleasant odors that invade the hallways. The elevator has been out of service for years, leaving people with reduced mobility no options.
“Imagine, you cannot do quality work with a system of justice based on the ineffectiveness of its facilities,” Rodríguez criticized.
In other prosecutor’s offices, the lack of water and air conditioning turns hearings into unbearable experiences. Furthermore, the technological equipment is insufficient and obsolete, which makes the work of judges and prosecutors.
Precariousness even affects journalists, who face difficulties in covering cases due to the lack of available spaces. “In the only prosecutor’s office that has a press room is in the National District; in the others we must manage as best we can,” commented an anonymous journalist.
Origin of the problem
The underlying problem is breach of the Law 194-04 of Budget Allocation, which establishes 1.44% of the national budget for the Public Ministry and the Judiciary. According to Rodríguez, the latter barely receives 0.86%, which seriously limits its ability to develop plans, improve infrastructure and guarantee a justice efficient.
“The Public Ministry is willing to assume the burdens of the system of prisons and the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif), but it needs the resources to do it,” said Rodríguez.
Difference wage pending analysis
According to the scale wage Currently, a justice of the peace earns between 125,000 and 156,250 pesos, in addition to 8% of the salary in fuel and another 8% in entertainment expenses. In contrast, an inspector receives 90,000 pesos, plus 9,000 pesos for fuel.
A trial judge has a salary between 165,625 and 207,031.25 pesos, plus 8% fuel and 8% in representation expenses, compared to 125,000 pesos and 12,000 pesos fuel for a tax attorney.
Likewise, a court judge receives between 231,875 and 289,843.75 pesos, plus 8% in fuel and 10% in representation expenses. In comparison, a court attorney receives 170,000 pesos, plus 17,000 pesos for fuel.
Prosecutor’s offices in Greater Santo Domingo
- Santo Domingo Este Prosecutor’s Office
- Santo Domingo Oeste Prosecutor’s Office
- National District Traffic Prosecutor’s Office
- Neighborhood Community Prosecutor’s Office, Ensanche La Paz
- Neighborhood Prosecutor’s Office, Colonial Zone
- Gender Violence Prosecutor’s Office
- Santo Domingo Este Prosecutor’s Office
- Administrative Attorney General’s Office
- Prosecutor’s Office for Boys, Girls and Adolescents
