The Dominican Republic has achieved a significant milestone in public safety, with its homicide rate dropping to 8.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, positioning it as the second safest country in Latin America. This marks a substantial decrease from the 13.79 per 100,000 rate recorded in June 2023.
President Luis Abinader attributed this improvement to the effective operations of the Joint Task Force, a collaborative initiative launched in June 2023 that unifies law enforcement, the judiciary, and other security agencies. The task force employs data-driven strategies to monitor and respond to crime trends, conducting weekly reviews of crime indicators and high-impact cases.
Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful highlighted the positive impact of the Joint Task Force, noting that 24 out of 34 provinces now report homicide rates below 10 per 100,000 inhabitants. She emphasized that 23 provinces have single-digit murder rates, confirming the effectiveness of the Security Plan.
The decline in homicides is part of a broader trend of reduced crime rates in the country. Robbery cases have also decreased, with reports dropping from 7,964 in 2023 to 6,754 in 2024, and further to 5,080 in 2025. This represents a cumulative decrease of 2,884 crimes, equivalent to a 24.8% reduction.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. The cumulative homicide rate stood at 8.31 per 100,000 inhabitants in the first half of June 2025, indicating that while progress has been made, further efforts are necessary to achieve sustained reductions in violence.
The Dominican Republic’s success in reducing its homicide rate underscores the effectiveness of coordinated security measures and the commitment of its government to enhancing public safety. Ongoing vigilance and adaptation to emerging challenges will be crucial in maintaining and building upon these gains.
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