Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán: The response to crime is a State policy
The executive vice president of the Institutionalism and Justice Foundation (FINJUS), Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán, presented a forceful position regarding the operational methods of the National Police. According to the jurist, the actions carried out by the agents against criminality should not be seen as isolated decisions of the institution, but as part of a comprehensive strategy defined by the Dominican State.
During a recent intervention, Castaños Guzmán stressed that, while the police force is the executing arm on the streets, the ultimate responsibility for the approach to combat the criminal phenomenon lies in the design of government public policies.
Many times the Police are accused of using certain methods, but often those are policies that go beyond what police actions are.
Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán
A necessary debate on human rights and security
The analysis arises following recent clashes between alleged criminals and law enforcement, which have resulted in deaths that have sparked an intense public debate. The FINJUS representative acknowledged that any police action must be strictly subject to the respect for human rights, although he emphasized the complexity of the current context.
According to the expert, it is essential to understand the nature of the criminal structures operating within the national territory. Given this scenario, the State has been forced to adjust its response protocols, which requires a deep analysis of how the country is managing citizen security.
Beyond crime: a problem of social conflict
Castaños Guzmán warned that reducing the current landscape solely to a matter of crime is a diagnostic error. In his view, the Dominican Republic is going through a deeper phenomenon of social conflict that requires a multidisciplinary response and not just a punitive one.
- Violence must be understood as a multi-causal problem.
- A dialogue table between authorities is required to outline new measures.
- The state strategy must transcend the merely police-oriented approach to address the roots of the social crisis.
The jurist concluded by urging the authorities to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the situation, in order to implement effective measures that allow for the reduction of violence levels and the restoration of tranquility in the different sectors of the country.
