{"id":217,"date":"2013-08-08T18:48:44","date_gmt":"2013-08-08T18:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drlawyer.com\/espanol\/?page_id=217"},"modified":"2019-11-25T02:40:40","modified_gmt":"2019-11-25T02:40:40","slug":"criminal-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/drlawyer.com\/espanol\/criminal-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Criminal Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Criminal<\/a><\/p>\n

Everyone\u00a0present in the Dominican Republic country is subject to the\u00a0criminal laws<\/strong>\u00a0of the country. The primary laws governing this area are the Constitution, last amended January 26, 2010, the Penal Code, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, implemented in 2004 to guarantee citizens protection under the law, and respect for due process and human rights.<\/p>\n

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right to Life<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 37 of the Constitution establishes the right to life as inviolable from conception until death, and expressly prohibits the death penalty.<\/p>\n

No discrimination<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 39 prohibits discrimination under the law on the basis of gender, skin color, age, disability, national origin, family ties, language, religion, political or philosophical opinions, or social or personal conditions.<\/p>\n

Right to Freedom and Personal Security<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under Article 40 of the Constitution, a person may be arrested or detained only by a judge’s written order unless the person is caught in the act of committing a crime\u00a0(in flagrante delicto<\/em>). At the time of arrest, the arresting authority must identify him or herself, and inform the person of his or her rights. Once detained, the person is entitled to contact a family member, an attorney, or other trusted person, who may request information about the location of and grounds for the arrest. The arrested person must be brought before a judge within forty-eight hours of arrest and either be charged or released. The person can demand release through a habeas corpus hearing if there are no grounds for the arrest, or the legal formalities were not followed.<\/p>\n

Right against Illegal Search and Seizure<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 44 of the Constitution establishes a person’s right to privacy, and the government\u2019s obligation to obtain a search warrant from a judge before entering a person’s private premises. The government is also required to obtain a court order to collect a person’s private documents and communications.<\/p>\n

Due Process<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under Article 69 of the Constitution, all accused persons have the right to a timely, public, adversarial, and impartial trial. No one can be tried twice for the same criminal act, or be forced to testify against him or herself. Everyone is presumed innocent until judged guilty and all opportunities for appeal have been exhausted. Illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible and only laws predating the criminal act may be applied. Sentences cannot be increased on appeal if only the convicted person requested the appeal (Article 69).
\nRight to an Attorney<\/p>\n

A detained person is entitled to an attorney during any questioning, and has the right to remain silent. If the person cannot afford an attorney, or for any reason does not have one, the court will appoint an attorney from The Public Defender’s Office, which provides free legal representation, and ensures that the accused receive a fair trial (Article 176 of the Constitution).<\/p>\n

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Filing a Complaint<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Dominican Republic has an adversarial legal system in which the judge is an impartial referee between the prosecutor and defense attorney. The victim of a crime or the District Attorney’s Office (DA’s Office) (Ministerio P\u00fablico<\/em>) may bring charges against someone for an alleged crime, depending on the nature of the offence. The DA\u2019s Office is an autonomous, self-governing agency comprising the Attorney General, appointed by the President of the country, several deputies, half of which are also appointed by the President, and other prosecuting attorneys located around the country (Articles 171 and 172 of the Constitution). The Office is charged with protecting society against crime, and conducts criminal investigations, prosecutes criminal cases and regulates the prison system (Articles 169 and 170). Under the Dominican legal system, the victim has the right to sue concurrently for civil damages before the criminal court, and to be represented for such purposes by an attorney who will represent the victim\u2019s interest as a private accuser.<\/p>\n

Pre-Trial Detainment<\/strong><\/p>\n

When a complaint is filed, the DA’s Office opens an investigation, and determines the validity of the complaint. If the DA’s Office deems the complaint to be valid, the facts are sent to an investigating judge (juez de la instrucci\u00f3n<\/em>), who will decide, based on the evidence available, whether the detained person remains in police custody or is released while investigation of the charges continues. The rule is that the detained person be released unless he or she presents a flight risk. The burden is on the DA’s Office to justify taking coercive measures (medidas de coerci\u00f3n<\/em>) against the accused such as imprisonment, house arrest, mandatory reporting to the DA’s Office, passport confiscation, or bail requirements. Any restriction to a person’s liberty must be exceptional, proportional to the danger presented (Article 40.9 of the Constitution), and cannot exceed one year.<\/p>\n

Preliminary Hearing<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the preliminary hearing, the investigating judge will evaluate the gravity of the crime and sufficiency of the evidence against the accused and decide either that (i) there is insufficient evidence and order the accused be released (auto de no ha lugar<\/em>) and the case closed, which can be appealed by the prosecutor, or (ii) the evidence is sufficient to indict the accused and therefore order the case to go to trial (auto de apertura a juicio<\/em>). The case will be heard by either a sole judge or a panel of judges based on the gravity of the offense. There is no trial by jury.<\/p>\n

Trial<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Court of First Instance (Juzgado de Primera Instancia<\/em>) hears the case on its merits, and the presiding judge questions the accused to see if the testimony conforms to the facts contained in the documents presented for trial. At this time, the prosecutor and the attorneys for the defense and the private accuser question the accused. All parties may also call witnesses and present arguments for or against the accused. The accused have the right to remain silent during questioning. Finally, all parties present closing arguments. After hearing all the evidence and arguments, the presiding judge renders a verdict of guilty or innocent, and sets the sentence.<\/p>\n

A trial could last for more than a year depending on the difficulty in obtaining witness testimony, attorney delays, or complications with evidence or other legal issues.<\/p>\n

Appeals<\/strong><\/p>\n

The verdict may be appealed to a Court of Appeals (Corte de Apelaci\u00f3n<\/em>) within ten days of the Court of First Instance’s decision. An appellate court may only review matters of law, and its decision may be further appealed to the Supreme Court, which also rules only on the correct application of law. If the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court decides that the law was incorrectly applied, the case is sent down to a different Court of First Instance for a retrial.
\nGUZMAN ARIZA ON CRIMINAL LAW<\/strong><\/p>\n

Guzman Ariza<\/a>\u00a0is strategically located in all of the major tourist centers around the country and can provide you with immediate and informed assistance should you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being the accused, or the victim, of a criminal act. By knowing the local authorities of these major areas, we can navigate the criminal process and the concurrent civil action more expediently and ensure that your rights are protected.<\/em>Everyone present in the Dominican Republic country is subject to the\u00a0criminal laws<\/strong>\u00a0of the country. The primary laws governing this area are the Constitution, last amended January 26, 2010, the Penal Code, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, implemented in 2004 to guarantee citizens protection under the law, and respect for due process and human rights.<\/p>\n

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right to Life<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 37 of the Constitution establishes the right to life as inviolable from conception until death, and expressly prohibits the death penalty.<\/p>\n

No discrimination<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 39 prohibits discrimination under the law on the basis of gender, skin color, age, disability, national origin, family ties, language, religion, political or philosophical opinions, or social or personal conditions.<\/p>\n

Right to Freedom and Personal Security<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under Article 40 of the Constitution, a person may be arrested or detained only by a judge’s written order unless the person is caught in the act of committing a crime\u00a0(in flagrante delicto<\/em>). At the time of arrest, the arresting authority must identify him or herself, and inform the person of his or her rights. Once detained, the person is entitled to contact a family member, an attorney, or other trusted person, who may request information about the location of and grounds for the arrest. The arrested person must be brought before a judge within forty-eight hours of arrest and either be charged or released. The person can demand release through a habeas corpus hearing if there are no grounds for the arrest, or the legal formalities were not followed.<\/p>\n

Right against Illegal Search and Seizure<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 44 of the Constitution establishes a person’s right to privacy, and the government\u2019s obligation to obtain a search warrant from a judge before entering a person’s private premises. The government is also required to obtain a court order to collect a person’s private documents and communications.<\/p>\n

Due Process<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under Article 69 of the Constitution, all accused persons have the right to a timely, public, adversarial, and impartial trial. No one can be tried twice for the same criminal act, or be forced to testify against him or herself. Everyone is presumed innocent until judged guilty and all opportunities for appeal have been exhausted. Illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible and only laws predating the criminal act may be applied. Sentences cannot be increased on appeal if only the convicted person requested the appeal (Article 69).
\nRight to an Attorney<\/p>\n

A detained person is entitled to an attorney during any questioning, and has the right to remain silent. If the person cannot afford an attorney, or for any reason does not have one, the court will appoint an attorney from The Public Defender’s Office, which provides free legal representation, and ensures that the accused receive a fair trial (Article 176 of the Constitution).<\/p>\n

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Filing a Complaint<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Dominican Republic has an adversarial legal system in which the judge is an impartial referee between the prosecutor and defense attorney. The victim of a crime or the District Attorney’s Office (DA’s Office) (Ministerio P\u00fablico<\/em>) may bring charges against someone for an alleged crime, depending on the nature of the offence. The DA\u2019s Office is an autonomous, self-governing agency comprising the Attorney General, appointed by the President of the country, several deputies, half of which are also appointed by the President, and other prosecuting attorneys located around the country (Articles 171 and 172 of the Constitution). The Office is charged with protecting society against crime, and conducts criminal investigations, prosecutes criminal cases and regulates the prison system (Articles 169 and 170). Under the Dominican legal system, the victim has the right to sue concurrently for civil damages before the criminal court, and to be represented for such purposes by an attorney who will represent the victim\u2019s interest as a private accuser.<\/p>\n

Pre-Trial Detainment<\/strong><\/p>\n

When a complaint is filed, the DA’s Office opens an investigation, and determines the validity of the complaint. If the DA’s Office deems the complaint to be valid, the facts are sent to an investigating judge (juez de la instrucci\u00f3n<\/em>), who will decide, based on the evidence available, whether the detained person remains in police custody or is released while investigation of the charges continues. The rule is that the detained person be released unless he or she presents a flight risk. The burden is on the DA’s Office to justify taking coercive measures (medidas de coerci\u00f3n<\/em>) against the accused such as imprisonment, house arrest, mandatory reporting to the DA’s Office, passport confiscation, or bail requirements. Any restriction to a person’s liberty must be exceptional, proportional to the danger presented (Article 40.9 of the Constitution), and cannot exceed one year.<\/p>\n

Preliminary Hearing<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the preliminary hearing, the investigating judge will evaluate the gravity of the crime and sufficiency of the evidence against the accused and decide either that (i) there is insufficient evidence and order the accused be released (auto de no ha lugar<\/em>) and the case closed, which can be appealed by the prosecutor, or (ii) the evidence is sufficient to indict the accused and therefore order the case to go to trial (auto de apertura a juicio<\/em>). The case will be heard by either a sole judge or a panel of judges based on the gravity of the offense. There is no trial by jury.<\/p>\n

Trial<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Court of First Instance (Juzgado de Primera Instancia<\/em>) hears the case on its merits, and the presiding judge questions the accused to see if the testimony conforms to the facts contained in the documents presented for trial. At this time, the prosecutor and the attorneys for the defense and the private accuser question the accused. All parties may also call witnesses and present arguments for or against the accused. The accused have the right to remain silent during questioning. Finally, all parties present closing arguments. After hearing all the evidence and arguments, the presiding judge renders a verdict of guilty or innocent, and sets the sentence.<\/p>\n

A trial could last for more than a year depending on the difficulty in obtaining witness testimony, attorney delays, or complications with evidence or other legal issues.<\/p>\n

Appeals<\/strong><\/p>\n

The verdict may be appealed to a Court of Appeals (Corte de Apelaci\u00f3n<\/em>) within ten days of the Court of First Instance’s decision. An appellate court may only review matters of law, and its decision may be further appealed to the Supreme Court, which also rules only on the correct application of law. If the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court decides that the law was incorrectly applied, the case is sent down to a different Court of First Instance for a retrial.
\nGUZMAN ARIZA ON CRIMINAL LAW<\/strong><\/p>\n

Guzman Ariza<\/a>\u00a0is strategically located in all of the major tourist centers around the country and can provide you with immediate and informed assistance should you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being the accused, or the victim, of a criminal act. By knowing the local authorities of these major areas, we can navigate the criminal process and the concurrent civil action more expediently and ensure that your rights are protected.<\/em>Everyone present in the Dominican Republic country is subject to the\u00a0criminal laws<\/strong>\u00a0of the country. The primary laws governing this area are the Constitution, last amended January 26, 2010, the Penal Code, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, implemented in 2004 to guarantee citizens protection under the law, and respect for due process and human rights.<\/p>\n

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right to Life<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 37 of the Constitution establishes the right to life as inviolable from conception until death, and expressly prohibits the death penalty.<\/p>\n

No discrimination<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 39 prohibits discrimination under the law on the basis of gender, skin color, age, disability, national origin, family ties, language, religion, political or philosophical opinions, or social or personal conditions.<\/p>\n

Right to Freedom and Personal Security<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under Article 40 of the Constitution, a person may be arrested or detained only by a judge’s written order unless the person is caught in the act of committing a crime\u00a0(in flagrante delicto<\/em>). At the time of arrest, the arresting authority must identify him or herself, and inform the person of his or her rights. Once detained, the person is entitled to contact a family member, an attorney, or other trusted person, who may request information about the location of and grounds for the arrest. The arrested person must be brought before a judge within forty-eight hours of arrest and either be charged or released. The person can demand release through a habeas corpus hearing if there are no grounds for the arrest, or the legal formalities were not followed.<\/p>\n

Right against Illegal Search and Seizure<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 44 of the Constitution establishes a person’s right to privacy, and the government\u2019s obligation to obtain a search warrant from a judge before entering a person’s private premises. The government is also required to obtain a court order to collect a person’s private documents and communications.<\/p>\n

Due Process<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under Article 69 of the Constitution, all accused persons have the right to a timely, public, adversarial, and impartial trial. No one can be tried twice for the same criminal act, or be forced to testify against him or herself. Everyone is presumed innocent until judged guilty and all opportunities for appeal have been exhausted. Illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible and only laws predating the criminal act may be applied. Sentences cannot be increased on appeal if only the convicted person requested the appeal (Article 69).
\nRight to an Attorney<\/p>\n

A detained person is entitled to an attorney during any questioning, and has the right to remain silent. If the person cannot afford an attorney, or for any reason does not have one, the court will appoint an attorney from The Public Defender’s Office, which provides free legal representation, and ensures that the accused receive a fair trial (Article 176 of the Constitution).<\/p>\n

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Filing a Complaint<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Dominican Republic has an adversarial legal system in which the judge is an impartial referee between the prosecutor and defense attorney. The victim of a crime or the District Attorney’s Office (DA’s Office) (Ministerio P\u00fablico<\/em>) may bring charges against someone for an alleged crime, depending on the nature of the offence. The DA\u2019s Office is an autonomous, self-governing agency comprising the Attorney General, appointed by the President of the country, several deputies, half of which are also appointed by the President, and other prosecuting attorneys located around the country (Articles 171 and 172 of the Constitution). The Office is charged with protecting society against crime, and conducts criminal investigations, prosecutes criminal cases and regulates the prison system (Articles 169 and 170). Under the Dominican legal system, the victim has the right to sue concurrently for civil damages before the criminal court, and to be represented for such purposes by an attorney who will represent the victim\u2019s interest as a private accuser.<\/p>\n

Pre-Trial Detainment<\/strong><\/p>\n

When a complaint is filed, the DA’s Office opens an investigation, and determines the validity of the complaint. If the DA’s Office deems the complaint to be valid, the facts are sent to an investigating judge (juez de la instrucci\u00f3n<\/em>), who will decide, based on the evidence available, whether the detained person remains in police custody or is released while investigation of the charges continues. The rule is that the detained person be released unless he or she presents a flight risk. The burden is on the DA’s Office to justify taking coercive measures (medidas de coerci\u00f3n<\/em>) against the accused such as imprisonment, house arrest, mandatory reporting to the DA’s Office, passport confiscation, or bail requirements. Any restriction to a person’s liberty must be exceptional, proportional to the danger presented (Article 40.9 of the Constitution), and cannot exceed one year.<\/p>\n

Preliminary Hearing<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the preliminary hearing, the investigating judge will evaluate the gravity of the crime and sufficiency of the evidence against the accused and decide either that (i) there is insufficient evidence and order the accused be released (auto de no ha lugar<\/em>) and the case closed, which can be appealed by the prosecutor, or (ii) the evidence is sufficient to indict the accused and therefore order the case to go to trial (auto de apertura a juicio<\/em>). The case will be heard by either a sole judge or a panel of judges based on the gravity of the offense. There is no trial by jury.<\/p>\n

Trial<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Court of First Instance (Juzgado de Primera Instancia<\/em>) hears the case on its merits, and the presiding judge questions the accused to see if the testimony conforms to the facts contained in the documents presented for trial. At this time, the prosecutor and the attorneys for the defense and the private accuser question the accused. All parties may also call witnesses and present arguments for or against the accused. The accused have the right to remain silent during questioning. Finally, all parties present closing arguments. After hearing all the evidence and arguments, the presiding judge renders a verdict of guilty or innocent, and sets the sentence.<\/p>\n

A trial could last for more than a year depending on the difficulty in obtaining witness testimony, attorney delays, or complications with evidence or other legal issues.<\/p>\n

Appeals<\/strong><\/p>\n

The verdict may be appealed to a Court of Appeals (Corte de Apelaci\u00f3n<\/em>) within ten days of the Court of First Instance’s decision. An appellate court may only review matters of law, and its decision may be further appealed to the Supreme Court, which also rules only on the correct application of law. If the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court decides that the law was incorrectly applied, the case is sent down to a different Court of First Instance for a retrial.
\nGUZMAN ARIZA ON CRIMINAL LAW<\/strong><\/p>\n

Guzman Ariza<\/a>\u00a0is strategically located in all of the major tourist centers around the country and can provide you with immediate and informed assistance should you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being the accused, or the victim, of a criminal act. By knowing the local authorities of these major areas, we can navigate the criminal process and the concurrent civil action more expediently and ensure that your rights are protected.<\/em>Everyone present in the Dominican Republic country is subject to the\u00a0criminal laws<\/strong>\u00a0of the country. The primary laws governing this area are the Constitution, last amended January 26, 2010, the Penal Code, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, implemented in 2004 to guarantee citizens protection under the law, and respect for due process and human rights.<\/p>\n

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right to Life<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 37 of the Constitution establishes the right to life as inviolable from conception until death, and expressly prohibits the death penalty.<\/p>\n

No discrimination<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 39 prohibits discrimination under the law on the basis of gender, skin color, age, disability, national origin, family ties, language, religion, political or philosophical opinions, or social or personal conditions.<\/p>\n

Right to Freedom and Personal Security<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under Article 40 of the Constitution, a person may be arrested or detained only by a judge’s written order unless the person is caught in the act of committing a crime\u00a0(in flagrante delicto<\/em>). At the time of arrest, the arresting authority must identify him or herself, and inform the person of his or her rights. Once detained, the person is entitled to contact a family member, an attorney, or other trusted person, who may request information about the location of and grounds for the arrest. The arrested person must be brought before a judge within forty-eight hours of arrest and either be charged or released. The person can demand release through a habeas corpus hearing if there are no grounds for the arrest, or the legal formalities were not followed.<\/p>\n

Right against Illegal Search and Seizure<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 44 of the Constitution establishes a person’s right to privacy, and the government\u2019s obligation to obtain a search warrant from a judge before entering a person’s private premises. The government is also required to obtain a court order to collect a person’s private documents and communications.<\/p>\n

Due Process<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under Article 69 of the Constitution, all accused persons have the right to a timely, public, adversarial, and impartial trial. No one can be tried twice for the same criminal act, or be forced to testify against him or herself. Everyone is presumed innocent until judged guilty and all opportunities for appeal have been exhausted. Illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible and only laws predating the criminal act may be applied. Sentences cannot be increased on appeal if only the convicted person requested the appeal (Article 69).
\nRight to an Attorney<\/p>\n

A detained person is entitled to an attorney during any questioning, and has the right to remain silent. If the person cannot afford an attorney, or for any reason does not have one, the court will appoint an attorney from The Public Defender’s Office, which provides free legal representation, and ensures that the accused receive a fair trial (Article 176 of the Constitution).<\/p>\n

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Filing a Complaint<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Dominican Republic has an adversarial legal system in which the judge is an impartial referee between the prosecutor and defense attorney. The victim of a crime or the District Attorney’s Office (DA’s Office) (Ministerio P\u00fablico<\/em>) may bring charges against someone for an alleged crime, depending on the nature of the offence. The DA\u2019s Office is an autonomous, self-governing agency comprising the Attorney General, appointed by the President of the country, several deputies, half of which are also appointed by the President, and other prosecuting attorneys located around the country (Articles 171 and 172 of the Constitution). The Office is charged with protecting society against crime, and conducts criminal investigations, prosecutes criminal cases and regulates the prison system (Articles 169 and 170). Under the Dominican legal system, the victim has the right to sue concurrently for civil damages before the criminal court, and to be represented for such purposes by an attorney who will represent the victim\u2019s interest as a private accuser.<\/p>\n

Pre-Trial Detainment<\/strong><\/p>\n

When a complaint is filed, the DA’s Office opens an investigation, and determines the validity of the complaint. If the DA’s Office deems the complaint to be valid, the facts are sent to an investigating judge (juez de la instrucci\u00f3n<\/em>), who will decide, based on the evidence available, whether the detained person remains in police custody or is released while investigation of the charges continues. The rule is that the detained person be released unless he or she presents a flight risk. The burden is on the DA’s Office to justify taking coercive measures (medidas de coerci\u00f3n<\/em>) against the accused such as imprisonment, house arrest, mandatory reporting to the DA’s Office, passport confiscation, or bail requirements. Any restriction to a person’s liberty must be exceptional, proportional to the danger presented (Article 40.9 of the Constitution), and cannot exceed one year.<\/p>\n

Preliminary Hearing<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the preliminary hearing, the investigating judge will evaluate the gravity of the crime and sufficiency of the evidence against the accused and decide either that (i) there is insufficient evidence and order the accused be released (auto de no ha lugar<\/em>) and the case closed, which can be appealed by the prosecutor, or (ii) the evidence is sufficient to indict the accused and therefore order the case to go to trial (auto de apertura a juicio<\/em>). The case will be heard by either a sole judge or a panel of judges based on the gravity of the offense. There is no trial by jury.<\/p>\n

Trial<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Court of First Instance (Juzgado de Primera Instancia<\/em>) hears the case on its merits, and the presiding judge questions the accused to see if the testimony conforms to the facts contained in the documents presented for trial. At this time, the prosecutor and the attorneys for the defense and the private accuser question the accused. All parties may also call witnesses and present arguments for or against the accused. The accused have the right to remain silent during questioning. Finally, all parties present closing arguments. After hearing all the evidence and arguments, the presiding judge renders a verdict of guilty or innocent, and sets the sentence.<\/p>\n

A trial could last for more than a year depending on the difficulty in obtaining witness testimony, attorney delays, or complications with evidence or other legal issues.<\/p>\n

Appeals<\/strong><\/p>\n

The verdict may be appealed to a Court of Appeals (Corte de Apelaci\u00f3n<\/em>) within ten days of the Court of First Instance’s decision. An appellate court may only review matters of law, and its decision may be further appealed to the Supreme Court, which also rules only on the correct application of law. If the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court decides that the law was incorrectly applied, the case is sent down to a different Court of First Instance for a retrial.
\nGUZMAN ARIZA ON CRIMINAL LAW<\/strong><\/p>\n

Guzman Ariza<\/a>\u00a0is strategically located in all of the major tourist centers around the country and can provide you with immediate and informed assistance should you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being the accused, or the victim, of a criminal act. By knowing the local authorities of these major areas, we can navigate the criminal process and the concurrent civil action more expediently and ensure that your rights are protected.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everyone\u00a0present in the Dominican Republic country is subject to the\u00a0criminal laws\u00a0of the country. 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