The Judiciary's forensic interview centers ensure access to justice for people in vulnerable situations

The Dominican Judiciary established six new specialized care centers for vulnerable individuals in 2021, bringing the total to 15, located in the 11 judicial departments and 4 districts. 

These 15 interview centers In 2021, forensic investigators handled a total of 1,791 cases involving various criminal offenses, including violence, assault, sexual abuse and harassment, domestic violence, abduction and enticement of minors, gender-based violence, incest, and robbery, among others. 

The designated interview centers are located in La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, La Vega, Montecristi, Barahona, and San Juan de la Maguana, in addition to the nine established in the National District, Santiago, San Cristóbal, Puerto Plata, Samaná, Higüey, Santo Domingo, Valverde (Mao), and San Francisco de Macorís. 

According to a statistical report from the Judicial Branch’s Directorate of Inclusive Justice, the center that conducted the most interviews was the one in Santiago, with 337, followed by Higüey with 285 and San Cristóbal with 172. Likewise, the National District conducted 169, Santo Domingo 168, San Francisco de Macorís 158, Mao 95, Puerto Plata 78, and Samaná 18. 

The six new centers opened in San Pedro de Macorís, Barahona, La Vega, La Romana, San Juan de la Maguana, and Montecristi have conducted a total of 167 interviews since they began operations.  

Specialized Care Centers for Vulnerable Individuals provide a means of ensuring access to justice for people who, in the course of legal proceedings, may participate as victims or witnesses, and enable them to give testimony in accordance with the principles of effective judicial protection and due process, without being revictimized. 

The purpose of these interviews, which are conducted in a specialized setting where all parties to the criminal proceedings are represented, is to ensure that the individual is not required to repeat their statement throughout the proceedings. 

The launch of forensic interview centers strengthens, promotes, and advances the administration of justice for the benefit of all people, as set forth in the PJ’s “Vision for Justice 20/24” Strategic Plan, under its first pillar, “Justice for All.”. 

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