Each inmate costs the State RD$1,400 daily, affirms Roberto Santana

Santo Domingo. – The general director of the General Directorate of Penitentiary and Correctional Services (DGSPC), Roberto Santana Sánchez, revealed that each person deprived of liberty costs the Dominican State approximately RD$1,400 daily, which represents an estimated expense of RD$35 million per day and about RD$12.7 billion per year. The official explained that in the prison system there are around 25,000 inmates and that a large part corresponds to preventive prisoners who have not yet received a final sentence. “It hurts us more if those RD$1,400 daily that we have to pay for each person deprived of liberty, we are paying it for a majority who are innocent”, Santana expressed, pointing out that the State must guarantee food, accommodation, security, basic services and comprehensive care to each inmate. The also director of the National Office of Support for Penitentiary Reform (Onaprep) considered that, with the exception of some cases, people who have not been convicted should face their judicial processes in freedom, within their homes and communities, in order to prevent preventive detention from becoming an early sentence.

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Agreement to strengthen social reintegration Within the framework of reforms to the penitentiary system, Santana signed a cooperation agreement with the Dominican Evangelical Unity Confederation (Codue), represented by its president, Pastor Feliciano Lacen Custodio. The agreement, with a term of three years, seeks to promote initiatives aimed at the integral development of people deprived of their liberty, with emphasis on social inclusion, health, violence prevention, and the strengthening of values. Among the actions considered are academic training programs, scholarships, technical and professional training, soft skills workshops, and entrepreneurship projects, with the aim of improving employability and facilitating the social reintegration of inmates after serving their sentences. Likewise, the agreement includes physical, mental, and spiritual health campaigns, addiction prevention, and the promotion of a culture of peace within penitentiary centers. Santana emphasized that the transformation of the system not only involves improving infrastructure and security, but also ensuring real rehabilitation opportunities. "The development of the prison system must be focused on social reintegration and reducing recidivism," he concluded.