Dominican Republic's New Penal Code Sparks Legal and Media Debate

The Dominican Republic’s new Penal Code is set to take effect on August 3. Lawmakers, judges and civil society are debating its impact. Deputy Charlie Mariotti Jr. warned that several articles could threaten freedom of expression, urging a six‑month extension of the vacatio legis to amend provisions that might be used to punish journalists and critics of public officials.

Health professionals also raise concerns. A parliamentary bill authored by Deputy Lidia Pérez seeks to prevent medical deaths or complications from automatically resulting in criminal liability, differentiating between adverse outcomes and culpable negligence. Orthopedic surgeon Roberto Lafontaine echoed this, saying the code will increase institutional responsibility in the health sector, shifting some liability from individual doctors to health facilities.

Former high‑court judges and a former constitutional court justice support the code’s entry into force but call for later reforms through Congress or the Constitutional Court, rejecting the idea of using the vacatio legis to rewrite the law. The overall debate highlights fears of unconstitutional provisions affecting the press, medical practice and other sectors as the country moves toward a modernized criminal framework.