Guidance

Dominican Republic: information for victims of rape and sexual assault

Updated 23 September 2024

If you’ve been sexually assaulted it’s important to remember that it was not your fault. Rape and sexual assault is always wrong – no matter who commits it or where it happens. It is traumatic and it can affect you both physically and emotionally. Do not be afraid to get help.

This information is provided to help British nationals make informed decisions about whether and how to seek medical advice and attention, report to local police and engage with local legal authorities following a rape or other form of sexual assault in Dominican Republic.

For information on support available in the UK, see Rape and Sexual Assault: Returning to the UK

1. First steps

It is your choice about what you do next, but this information may help you in coming to a decision. The most important thing is to make sure that you are as safe as you can be. You can:

• contact your tour operator if you are travelling with one
• reach out to the Tourist Police +1 809 222 2026, or in person if they are nearby
• contact the local emergency number 911: the service is available in most of the country
• contact the British Embassy in Santo Domingo +1 809 472 7111 option “Help for British people”. This option is available 24/7.

Embassy staff will be empathetic, and non-judgmental, and can provide information on local police and medical procedures. Anything you tell them will be treated in the strictest confidence. They can contact your family or friends for you if you wish.

2. If you want to report the incident to the police in Dominican Republic

In the Dominican Republic the General Attorney’s Office (Procuraduría General de la República) has a National Directorate of Victim Attention that oversees rape and sexual assault cases nationwide.

National Directorate of Victim Attention
Calle Homero Hernández 49
Ensanche La Fe
Distrito Nacional

There is also a Sex Crimes Department assigned to the National Directorate of Victim Attention and General Attorney’s Office:

Sex Crimes Department
Rómulo Betancourt Avenue 301
National District,

Tel: +1 809 533 6668

The National Direction of Victim Attention in the Dominican Republic also has different dependencies located throughout the country that deal with rape and sexual assault cases directly, or specialised victims units (SVU). Victims that report incidents to the police or General Attorney’s Office would be referred to the nearest SVU or specialized Sex Crimes Department after taking down details and making an initial report.

Specialised Victim Units 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday

They are normally able to provide translators, however these arrangements may take time.

You must report the crime before returning to the UK if you want it to be investigated. To report the incident locally, you must follow the procedure, also known as protocol, set out by the Attorney General’s SVU.

The Specialised Victims Unit (SVU) Protocol:

At the SVU, the district attorney will take your declaration to file a formal report.

They will also carry out:

• a sexual assault medical forensic examination
• psychological evaluation

These will be used as evidence. If you are a minor you must be accompanied by an adult either parent or guardian.

The medical and psychological evaluations are part of the evidence gathering process, you will not need to pay for these.

If you are travelling with a tour operator, you can report the incident to them or your hotel and ask for their assistance. They may be able to arrange for someone to accompany you to the police/SVU. The same applies for the Tourist Police who may then help you to reach your tour operator/hotel or take you to the police or SVU.

The British Embassy can also try to send a consular officer to support you, where timing and location allow. You will always be able to speak to trained consular staff on the telephone 24/7.

If you approach the police directly, you can also ask them to inform the British Embassy in Santo Domingo on +1 809 472-7111, option ‘Help for British people’, which will enable the Embassy to provide you with consular support.

If you choose to report the crime, try to do so as soon as possible, so forensic evidence can be retained. Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence.

If you change your clothes, think about taking those you were wearing to the police. You may wish to preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes, or texts.

You should:

• tell the police/SVU if you think you have been drugged
• insist you get a police report

This will be provided in Spanish. You will need to get this translated if you want an English version. The British Embassy in Santo Domingo provides a list of translators in the Dominican Republic.

Victims do not run any risk when reporting a rape or sexual assault to local police. Extramarital sex and homosexuality are not crimes in the Dominican Republic and there are established processes for handling rape and sexual assault. Drinking is not a crime but taking drugs is a crime and will be penalised.

You can request to be interviewed by a police officer of a particular gender although there is no guarantee one will be available. It is very rare that local police officers speak English. You might consider having your own interpreter with you when you visit the police station.

Investigations are led by the District Attorney’s Office and victims will not have to surrender their passport whilst any investigation is carried out.

A consular officer may be able to accompany you while you file the report with the police as well as during subsequent visits to the SVU, where timing and location allow.

Local legal procedures differ from those in the United Kingdom. You are not required to appoint a lawyer as the public prosecutor is responsible for prosecuting the case. Sometimes the local legal system is very busy, which may affect how quickly they process your case.

You can appoint a local lawyer to help with following up on the legal processes as well as progress of the case.

3. If you do not want to report the incident to the police in the Dominican Republic

The British embassy or consulate will be able to help you. This includes helping you to contact your insurance company, your family, making arrangements to travel back to the UK and/or provide you with information on local support in the UK.

They can provide you with lists of English-speaking medical facilities, lawyers and translators:

List of English-Speaking Lawyers in Dominican Republic

List of Medical Facilities in Dominican Republic

List of Translators in Dominican Republic

If you are travelling with one, you can also report the incident to your tour operator and ask them for assistance. If you wish, the tour operator may accompany you to the local hospital. If you wish, and depending on location and timing, a member of consular staff may be able to accompany you.

It is your choice on whether to report the crime in the Dominican Republic. If you don’t report it, your case will not be investigated.

If you do not report the crime, you can seek medical attention, but the hospital has an obligation to report a rape or sexual assault to the authorities and refer your case to the SVU. You can decline to take the police report forward at any point.

4. If you want to report the incident to the police in the UK

The support available to you, and your access to justice may vary according to where you report the crime. In many countries, including the Dominican Republic, you need to report the crime before you leave the country, if you want it to be investigated and police to obtain important evidence.

If you are staying in the country where the crime took place, you should report the crime in that country. If you are a British national and you need help to report the crime, you can contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate, or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London.

If you do not report the crime in the Dominican Republic and you return to the UK, you can still report the matter to your local UK police. The UK police should send the information you provide to the Dominican Republic, although it is for foreign authorities to decide whether to investigate a crime in their jurisdiction. If you do not report the crime in person to the Dominican Republic authorities, they will not investigate.

You can report the crime to the UK police even if you are not seeking an investigation abroad. The UK police can offer you access to victim support in the UK. They may still send some details of the crime to police in the country where it happened. This might be necessary in order to protect vulnerable people, or to stop more crimes being committed.

5. Reporting the crime in Dominican Republic - what happens next?

If you choose to report the crime, try to do so as soon as possible, so forensic evidence can be retained. Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence.

If you change your clothes, think about taking those you were wearing to the police. You may wish to preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes, or texts and social media messages.

You will need to make a statement about the incident including a description of the attacker(s).

The police/District Attorney will keep any clothes or electronic equipment, which may be evidence of your attack to present to a forensic examiner.

The police will refer you to the nearest SVU after taking an initial report. There are SVUs located throughout the country.

In the Dominican Republic, local police/District Attorney will not inform UK police nor ask UK police to undertake police checks on the victim.

6. The medical examination – what to expect

Medical treatment for RSA victims is available from the SVU. It is mandatory in the Dominican Republic that hospitals report any RSA cases they receive to the District Attorney’s Office. These cases will also be a referred to the nearest SVU.

Medical examinations are performed with the victim’s consent, by the forensic doctor at the SVU as part of their rape and sexual assault protocol. The victim can request to be examined by a male or female doctor and the SVU may provide for this, subject to availability.

The examiner will ask some questions and may take photographs of any injuries. During the examination, s/he will normally check the following:

• bruising and external injuries on all areas of the body
• internal injuries by examination and internal swabs
• possible DNA testing and tests relating to date rape drugs or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

A consular officer may be able to accompany you during your visits to the SVU, where timing and location allow. Also, local tour operators are likely to assist.

6.1 Treatment

If you seek medical attention due to RSA, the hospital will have to report it to the authorities and refer you to the nearest Special Victims Unit (SVU), where post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment is part of their protocol. The PEP kit will be provided at a local nearby hospital indicated by the SVU. This is medically prescribed and you will have to follow the recommendations provided.

HIV PEP medication needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective. The NHS may be able to commence or continue the 28-day treatment on return to the UK.

Emergency contraception can be purchased at a local pharmacy over the counter. It is also part of the PEP kit provided by the SVU protocol and you do not have to pay for it.

Emergency contraception needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective.

Hospital treatment and tests have no cost when provided within the SVU protocol. If you get private treatment, you will be charged and the incident may be reported to the authorities by the hospital.

If you have had medication administered overseas, you should keep the label or make a note of the name of the medication, so that you let your local health provider know when you return home.

7. Police investigations in Dominican Republic – what to expect

If they think it could help the investigation, the police may take you to the scene of the crime, or where you think the perpetrator is located, to try to identify and arrest the person.

If a suspect is brought to the police station, you will be asked to make an identification.

If the police make an arrest, they take the suspect before the District Attorney. The District Attorney will present the case to the court within 48 hours of the arrest. The court will assess and decide on one of the following measures to secure the suspect’s participation in the judicial process:

• to hold the suspect on remand
• to release the suspect on bail

The District Attorney will have three months to investigate the case and present an accusation against the suspect.

You will have to file a report with the District Attorney to complete the SVU protocol. Although not obligatory, you may appoint a lawyer to continue with the judicial process from there on. Lawyers in Dominican Republic generally do not offer pro bono service.

You may leave the country once the case is filed.

8. Court procedures – what to expect

If a suspect is ordered to trial you may have to testify in court. The victim may be able to testify from the UK via the Dominican Embassy and this would be arranged by the District Attorney’s office.

Though you are not required to appoint a local lawyer, a lawyer will be able to follow up on the process and keep you informed about the case, for example when there are delays. They will also be able to submit or make requests to the court.

The charge of rape is an automatic state prosecution that cannot be dropped.

The alleged assailant is able to press counter charges claiming false accusations.

The courts may order the offender to pay compensation for any injuries or losses after they have been convicted in a criminal court, if the victim formally presents a complaint before the court alongside the District Attorney’s indictment.

9. Additional legal information

9.1 How can my case be taken to trial?

You will have to file a report with the police and with the District Attorney at the Specialised Victims Unit, so the incident can be registered and investigated. The SVU protocol must be completed, i.e. you must have a forensic medical examination and psychological evaluation.

If the police make an arrest, they take the suspect before the District Attorney who should present the case to the court within 48 hours. The perpetrator needs to be identified by the victim.

If there has been no arrest, the District Attorney takes the case before the court based on the evidence and your statements obtained. In this case, the court issues an arrest warrant. If the perpetrator is found and arrested, the District Attorney’s office will arrange for the victim to identify them. If you have left the country this could be done remotely.

The coercive measures that can be appointed by the Judge can either instruct the suspect’s imprisonment or release them on bail, pending trial.

When the case is presented to the court by the District Attorney, the Judge will decide if the suspect will go to trial or, be released if the court believes there is insufficient evidence to prosecute.

You can file a report at any time, but you should do this as soon as you can. This allows the Special Victim’s Unit to collect evidence before it is impaired or lost. The report cannot be filed from the UK, nor through a lawyer.

Police officers rarely speak English. You might consider having your own interpreter with you when you visit the police station. The District Attorney’s office is normally able to provide translators, however these arrangements may take time as they are subject to availability.

9.2 Trial procedures

You should remain in contact with the District Attorney’s office to request updates regarding trial process as well as to provide any information required from them by the court. All judicial procedures are conducted in Spanish.

You may wish to consider appointing a private local lawyer/legal representative to help with following up on the progress of the trial. Additionally, the lawyer can communicate and provide updates in English. Privately hired legal services/representations will be charged for.

If you appoint a local lawyer/legal representative you are able to directly participate in the process as a plaintiff alongside the District Attorney. For example, you will be able to produce evidence and make requests directly to the court. You will also be able to claim compensation for any injuries or losses sustained during or as a result of the assault.

You do not need to be present at every court session. If necessary, the District Attorney’s office will make arrangements with the relevant Dominican Diplomatic Mission for victims to be able to testify remotely, depending on resources.

If you have to attend a trial abroad, as ordered by the court, local authorities are not able to assist with travel and accommodation arrangements or costs.

A case may take between 3 and 18 months to come to trial. This timeframe could be extended depending on circumstances and resources, eg. availability of public defendants/translators, workload volume of the courts. Some trials may last over 3 years.

Either you, the defendant, or the District Attorney can appeal a sentence. Sentences can be appealed in three instances: Court of Appeals; Supreme Court of Justice; Constitutional Court. The basis to appeal is established in the law. Appeal trials generally do not have a set number of hearings.

9.3 Hiring a lawyer

Though victims are not required to appoint a local lawyer, he/she will be able to follow up on the process and keep the victim informed when the local judicial system’s workload may result in delays on the delivery of updates. Additionally the lawyer can communicate and provide updates in English.

Rape and sexual assault cases are dealt with by criminal lawyers. The British Embassy Santo Domingo provides a local list of English-speaking lawyers in Dominican Republic.

9.4 Communication

The District Attorney’s Office should maintain contact with you as and when necessary. Communications will be in Spanish. You should contact the District Attorney’s office for updates. They may not respond quickly when they have a high workload.

You will be asked to provide contact information including permanent address, email, telephone number and alternate ways to be contacted. The District Attorney’s office will usually maintain contact via email and WhatsApp. District Attorney’s office will normally recommend the victim monitor their email so they can act on any requests promptly.

If you appoint a local lawyer or legal representative, they can seek updates on your behalf and relay information regarding the progress of the case.

9.5 Legal aid

There is no legal aid available locally. Lawyers will charge for services before the case goes to court.

9.6 Sentencing

Sentences are weighted in favour of punishment rather than rehabilitation, although the principles of the prison system in the Dominican Republic are now aiming for reinsertion of persons deprived of liberty or in conflict with criminal law.

The perpetrator would be guilty of ‘attacks on the physical or psychological integrity of persons’.

Judges are able to pass down the following sentences:

• 2 to 5 years for aggression
• 10 to 15 years for rape
• 20 years for incest

If found guilty, the aggressor can be fined. Some acts may increase the sentence length to 20 years, including raping a disabled person or pregnant woman.

If the alleged perpetrator is found not guilty, he/she will be released and the District Attorney, or any party to the criminal procedure, is entitled to file an appeal.

9.7 Compensation

Courts will not order the offender to pay compensation for any injuries or losses, either after they have been convicted in a criminal court or as a result of civil action.

The courts may order the offender to pay compensation for any injuries or losses after they have been convicted in a criminal court if you present a formal complaint before the court alongside the District Attorney’s indictment.

There are also applicable fines that may be imposed by the courts against the perpetrator, in addition to the criminal prison sentence.

There is no state-funded compensation scheme to cover physical or psychological injuries suffered as a result of a sexual or violent crime.

10. When you return home to the UK

You may want to let your GP or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) know what has happened to you so that you can talk about the experience and seek further support and advice where you live.

England	Scotland	Wales	Northern Ireland
NHS Choices website, or search the internet for ‘NHS SARC’	Archway SARC:	New Pathways SARC: phone 01685 379 310. Ynys Saff Sexual Assault Referral Centre - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board	Rowan SARC Northern Ireland: phone 0800 389 4424

If you believe you may be at risk of having contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI), you should ask your local health provider to test you. You should do this even if you have been tested in the country that the assault took place in.

It is your choice to let people know. If you are ready to talk about it, there are organisations in the UK that may be able to help you. They can be found on: Rape and Sexual Assault: Returning to the UK.

11. Disclaimer

This information has been prepared by HMG officials who are not legally or medically trained. It should therefore never be used as a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. It is intended to help British nationals overseas make their own informed decisions. Neither HMG nor any official of the Consulate accept liability for any loss or damage which you might suffer as a result of relying on the information supplied.

Medical information has been provided by The Havens Sexual Assault Referral Centres of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and was accurate at the time of production (02/02/2022).