This overcrowding fosters an increasingly dangerous environment. With prisoners outnumbering prison guards, the U.S. Department of State determined that it is more common to see prison guards patrol the outer perimeter of the prison, while inmates controlled the inside of the prisons with their “own rules and systems of justice.” This results in prison interiors being run by gangs, leading to extortion, drug trafficking, violence, and murder. The overcrowding is so persistent that some prisons have resorted to placing overflow inmates in trucks with tin roofs.
Additionally, overcrowded and dilapidated prisons also create unhealthy living conditions for prisoners. Often there are not enough bathrooms for all the prisoners, and some cells lack proper ventilation or natural light which causes mental and physical health to quickly worsen. Moreover, prisoners with conditions like HIV that need medicine often have a difficult time accessing the proper medication. Rehabilitation efforts to help inmates re-enter society is also made nearly impossible due to overcrowding, therefore prisoners that do get released have a higher level of recidivism.
Thus far, the main proposal from the Dominican Government to remedy their prisons has been to just build more. Director Santana has stated that 25 more prisons will be constructed by 2028 to hold a combined total of 20,000 inmates. Presently, the Dominican Republic has 19 traditional prisons and 22 correctional rehabilitation centers.
As the first anniversary of the deadly fire and explosion at La Victoria approaches, it remains unclear if the Dominican Republic will be able to remedy their prison issues simply through the construction of more prisons. However, as their crime rate continues to rise, it becomes evident that something needs to be done soon.
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