Pablo Ulloa calls for police reform and prison oversight in Dominican Republic

Dominican Ombudsman Pablo Ulloa has raised concerns regarding recent deaths of alleged criminals during police operations, arguing that such incidents threaten the rule of law and risk the lives of innocent citizens. Ulloa emphasized that the National Police should act as an auxiliary to the Public Ministry through investigation and intelligence rather than relying solely on lethal force. He stated, “The Police is not just about clubs and shooting,” calling for a more institutional approach involving prosecutors and judges to ensure legal consequences.

Ulloa also addressed critical issues within the Dominican prison system, noting that criminal organizations continue to operate from within correctional facilities. He highlighted that the country faces significant overcrowding, with approximately 25,878 inmates occupying only 16,000 available spaces. Furthermore, he pointed out that 65.5% of the prison population is held in pretrial detention and that many inmates lack adequate healthcare. To combat these issues, he proposed professionalizing prison staff, improving inmate classification, and utilizing technology to prevent illicit communications and criminal management from behind bars.