Rodolfo Valentín was sworn in again as director of the Public Defense for 6 years

Santo Domingo.- The President Judge of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), Henry Molina, swore in lawyer Rodolfo Valentín Santos as director of the National Public Defense Office, who was ratified in the position to lead that entity for a new period of 6 years. In the swearing-in ceremony, the other members of the Council participated, Héctor Pereyra, Dean of the Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD); Servio Tulio Castaños, vice president of the Institutionalism and Justice Foundation (FINJUS); César Marte, public defender, and representative before the National Public Defense Council; and Carlos Batista, departmental coordinator of the Santo Domingo Este Office. At the ceremony, Valentín Santos reaffirmed his commitment to the Institution’s strategic agenda 20025-2031, which rests on the axes: service strengthening, management and modernization, regulatory and ethical compliance, and institutional culture.

“This recognition of the work done in recent years motivates us to continue strengthening the Public Defense as a guarantor of the fundamental right to defense; I assume this new period with the commitment to continue modernizing the institution, expand coverage and ensure that every citizen, regardless of their condition, has real and dignified access to justice”, expressed Rodolfo Valentín Santos.

During their first term, 184,000 cases were entered into the National Public Defense Office and 800,000 people were assisted, guaranteeing the fundamental right to defense. In addition, prison reports were carried out annually, with 4 publications on detention and prison conditions.

You can also read: Public Defender criticizes system: “It only bites the poor”

During the 2019-2025 management, first headed by Valentín Santos, the following achievements were reached: expansion of national coverage with the opening of new offices in Jimaní, Nagua, Santiago Rodríguez and Las Matas de Farfán; entry of 74 new public defenders and training of 83 aspirants in the National School of the Judiciary. Also, institutional modernization with the implementation of digital folders and the beginning of the digital case management system; staff welfare, this includes complementary medical insurance, salary adjustments and delivery of 15 homes in alliance with the Ministry of Housing and Buildings (MIVED), recognition in transparency, with an average rating of 97.77% in the Government Transparency Ranking and strengthening of institutional autonomy with the creation of the Internal Comptroller’s Office. Article 20 of Law No. 277-04, which creates the National Office of Public Defense, establishes that its director is elected for a term of 6 years.