Experts analyze the impact of the new Penal Code at a forum organized by Pellerano & Herrera

The Dominican Republic is experiencing a pivotal moment in its legal history with the entry into force of the new Penal Code, contained in Law 74-25. This reform represents the most significant change to the criminal system in over a century and poses significant challenges and opportunities for all stakeholders in the justice system. Aware of the magnitude of this process, the law firm Pellerano & Herrera organized a new edition of its PH LawNext forum , entitled “Redefining Justice: New Penal Code.”

The event brought together renowned jurists, academics, civil society representatives, and legal professionals in a space for diverse and constructive dialogue that sought to unravel the scope of the reform, its regulatory gaps, its practical implications, and the need to promote public policies to ensure its proper implementation.

This article offers a detailed summary of the meeting and highlights the most relevant contributions. Readers are invited to download the executive summary prepared by Pellerano & Herrera and available on the firm’s website, as well as to view the entire discussion on the firm’s YouTube channel here .

A forum for critical and plural analysis

In the words of Ricardo Pellerano , the firm’s managing partner, the creation of spaces like PH LawNext responds to Pellerano & Herrera’s institutional mission to promote legal excellence and strengthen the rule of law:

“With PH LawNext, we seek to open a diverse forum where the country’s legal transformations can be critically and constructively examined. The new Criminal Code represents a decisive step toward strengthening the rule of law, and its proper application will depend on ongoing dialogue among all stakeholders in the justice system.”

The importance of this initiative lies not only in the exchange of opinions, but also in the production of reference documents, such as the executive summary of the new Criminal Code , which compiles in an organized manner the main changes introduced by the reform.

Main contributions of the panelists

The forum featured the participation of prominent speakers:

• Mr. Rodolfo Valentín , Director of the National Public Defense Office.
• Dr. María del Pilar Zuleta , legal director of Zuleta Associates.
• Dr. Miguel Valerio , founding partner of VJR Abogados.
• Moderated by Lucy Objío , partner at Pellerano & Herrera.

Each speaker provided a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of the new regulations.

Impact on Public Defense

Mr. Valentín emphasized that between 80% and 87% of judicial cases in the country are processed through the Public Defense Office. This means that the reform will have an immediate and profound impact on the work of this institution.

He stressed that the introduction of more than 70 new criminal offenses requires intensive training programs and adjustments to internal processes:

“This code not only strengthens sanctions, but also introduces socio-judicial measures that seek to prevent repeat offenses, such as re-education programs and offender registries.”

Criminal liability of legal entities

Dr. Zuleta focused her analysis on areas where companies could be held criminally liable, highlighting the new requirements in corporate compliance . She also warned that the legislator left regulatory gaps in some violations, creating uncertainty for companies seeking to ensure compliance.

Regulatory gaps and business challenges

Dr. Valerio addressed what he considers to be gaps in the regulations , particularly regarding corporate criminal liability and the definition of clear enforcement mechanisms. He emphasized the need for complementary legislative adjustments to avoid contradictory interpretations.

Regulatory advances and international standards

The forum also analyzed the institutional framework that accompanies the new Criminal Code. Highlights included Decree 787-21 , which declares the criminal justice sector to be of national interest, and INDOCAL’s ISO 22525 technical standard , aligned with international standards for quality, safety, and patient rights.

These advances seek to ensure that the Dominican Republic not only modernizes its legislation, but also positions itself as a country committed to the protection of fundamental rights and legal security .

Challenges in human capital and civic culture

Another central point of the debate was the need to strengthen the technical and nursing workforce , with ongoing training and language proficiency. It was emphasized that the success of the reform will depend on both the judicial system’s operators and an informed citizenry.

In this regard, participants agreed that it is vital to promote civic education campaigns that enable the population to understand their rights, responsibilities, and the consequences of the new provisions.

Invitation to action

Regulatory changes should not remain solely on the letter of the law. For the reform to fulfill its purpose, it is necessary to:

• Train judges, prosecutors, public defenders and lawyers.
• Strengthen compliance areas in companies.
• Promote inter-institutional dialogue.
• Promote citizen legal education campaigns.