Dominican Republic advances new Penal Code implementation plans

The Commission for the Monitoring and Socialization of the Penal Code (CSSCP) has approved a multi-stage work plan to educate the Dominican Republic's population on the new legislation. Chaired by Milton Ray Guevara, the commission submitted the roadmap to President Luis Abinader. The plan includes a national awareness campaign, the creation of an interactive web portal, and the development of a document addressing the 100 most frequent citizen inquiries.

A key component of the proposal is the establishment of a national observatory to monitor the application of the new code and systematize information regarding its enforcement. This observatory is expected to be operational within 90 days and will publish an initial bulletin on public perception.

In a separate legislative development, the Dominican Senate approved a measure to postpone the implementation of criminal sanctions for legal entities (companies and associations) until November 5, 2028. This 24-month delay from the original 2026 date aims to allow organizations sufficient time to strengthen internal compliance and supervisory structures to meet the new legal requirements.