This Friday, the General Directorate of Penitentiary and Correctional Services (DGSPC) executed the transfer of 400 inmates from the La Victoria prison to the Correctional and Rehabilitation Center (CCR Las Parras). This movement completes 50% of the capacity of the first module delivered by the Ministry of Housing and Buildings, in the framework of the prison reform driven by the Dominican state.
Collaboration of inmates accelerates the process
Roberto Santana, director of the DGSPC, praised the collaborative attitude of the remaining inmates in La Victoria, who facilitate their own re-location. “The new spaces will allow for treatment with greater dignity”, he stated, urging to maintain that cooperation to benefit families and society. This approach aims to eliminate illicit behaviors in prisons, a priority in the prison reform.
Modern infrastructure in CCR Las Parras transforms the system
Located in San Antonio de Guerra, Santo Domingo province, the CCR Las Parras module offers advanced installations: administrative areas, sewing workshops, hearing rooms, family and conjugal visits, maximum security cells, medical consultation, dining room, kitchen, electrical substation, and wastewater treatment plants. These improvements respond to the state’s obligation to rehabilitate those deprived of liberty, improving their integrity and public safety.
Historical context of the prison reform
The prison reform arises in response to chronic complaints of overcrowding in La Victoria, with rates exceeding 200% in previous years according to human rights reports. In 2025, the government accelerated works in CCR Las Parras, a complex planned since 2020 to decongest traditional prisons. Experts in penal justice highlight that these transfers reduce internal tensions and delinquent activities, as reported in official evaluations of 2025.
- Historic overcrowding in La Victoria: More than 15,000 inmates in spaces for 9,000.
- Initial capacity of CCR Las Parras: First module for 800 inmates.
- Benefits: Spaces for labor rehabilitation and dignified visits.
Families and lawyers see this transfer as a positive change. Santana emphasized that overcoming obstacles in the prison reform strengthens the entire society. With 400 inmates already relocated, the process continues prioritizing normalization and security in Dominican prisons.
