The new Penal Code and the debate on effectiveness against femicides
The toughening of penalties for femicide in the new Dominican Penal Code has sparked an intense debate among experts, who agree that legislation alone will not be enough to eradicate violence against women in the country. Although the regulations represent progress in judicial prosecution, specialized voices call for deepening preventive strategies.
Lawyer Edward Moya highlighted that the new piece of legislation strengthens the capacity for action of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the courts. Through the explicit classification of femicide in Article 93 and the incorporation of aggravating factors in Article 94, the State now has more precise technical tools to punish these crimes with greater severity.
Placing a category 93 for femicide will not solve the problem.
Amaury Ramírez, psychologist
For his part, psychologist Amaury Ramírez questioned the effectiveness of focusing the solution exclusively on increasing prison sentences, which range between 30 and 40 years. According to the specialist, Dominican society maintains a culture focused on punishment, while prevention remains in the background.
Risk factors and the need for a comprehensive approach
For experts, addressing this crisis requires public policies that transcend the criminal sphere. During the analysis, critical factors were identified that must be addressed at the root to avoid fatal outcomes:
- Pathological jealousy and obsessive control.
- Use of illicit substances and alcohol.
- Emotional dependency and low tolerance for frustration.
- Poor self-control in the face of conflict.
Moya and Ramírez agreed on the urgency of establishing an integrated institutional system. This structure should coordinate the Police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, mental health professionals, and the judicial system to intervene before domestic conflicts escalate into extreme violence.
The conclusion of the debate on Alofoke Deportes is clear: criminal justice is necessary, but insufficient. The true solution lies in a deep social intervention that includes education in schools, support for families, and effective community surveillance, transforming the state’s response from a merely punitive model to a preventive and protective one.
