Santo Domingo – After more than a century of governance under the 1884 Penal Code, the Dominican Republic has ushered in a landmark update to its criminal justice system with the adoption of a brand-new criminal code crafted to align with 21st-century crime patterns and contemporary legal norms. The long-awaited legislative reform, formally enshrined as Organic Law No. 74-25 with subsequent adjustments via Law No. 44-26, overhauls core frameworks of criminal theory in the country’s legal system. Among its key structural updates, the code introduces the formal legal concept of mistake of fact and for the first time establishes clear criminal liability for legal entities, filling gaps that existed in the century-old legislation. In a significant expansion of the country’s criminal statutes, the new code adds a range of underregulated modern and systemic offenses to its official list of crimes: femicide, contract killing, forced disappearance, crimes against humanity, and cyber harassment are all explicitly codified for the first time. Alongside these new classifications, the legislation strengthens legal safeguards and protections for crime victims, addressing longstanding calls for improved victim rights in the Dominican justice system. To improve accessibility for legal practitioners, the code includes a new alphabetical analytical index that lets users rapidly locate specific offenses, legal principles, core concepts, and other statutory provisions. This practical tool transforms the published code into a go-to reference work for judges, prosecuting attorneys, practicing lawyers, legal academics, and law students across the country. Dr. Félix Humberto Portes Núñez, the editor of the published edition of the new code, framed the reform as an essential progressive step for the Dominican legal system. However, he also highlighted the need for rigorous critical review of specific provisions, including the rules governing sentence accumulation and newly increased criminal penalties. Dr. Portes argued that the ultimate goal of any criminal punishment system should be centered on the successful social reintegration of people convicted of crimes, a priority that must not be overshadowed by harsher sentencing measures. As of this announcement, the published edition of the new criminal code is available for purchase at Cuesta Libros, located on Avenida 27 de Febrero in the National District, as well as at all major legal bookstores throughout the Dominican Republic.
New Dominican Republic Penal Code circulates, ending 142 years under 1884 Code
