1,629 victims of crime receive free assistance in courts

The national service of Legal representation of the rights of the victim has assisted in the courts for free to 1,629 people during the past four years, as affected direct or collateral of various criminal offences.

, However, despite the fact that the service is provided for in the Constitution promulgated on January 26, 2010, still has not passed law that will regulate it and be provided with budgetary and functional autonomy that guarantees greater expansion.

Service continues to function as a Department of the Attorney General of the Republic, institution that created it by resolution.

María Hernández, Director of the service of Legal representation to the victim, called on Congress to approve the law which increase its operation, so that the system may have greater legal certainty.

Recalled that you submitted a draft Bill, through the Office of the Senator Felix Bautista, but not yet u000aIt has been known. "The Constitution of 2010 established that the victim and the accused, must have a free legal assistance, is a constitutional matter, what is lacking is the legislator gives the constitutional nature through a law governing this service," stated Hernandez.

Said that with the adoption of the law service would work with a legal basis, because this will regulate all the work, its operation and would define the budget. "We need be supported and have working conditions to do well, as really deserve people who come looking for legal support," emphasized.

Currently, the service has offices in the National District, in the Santo Domingo province, in San Francisco de Macorís, Mount Cristi, La Vega, San Cristóbal, with a legal representative for each province.

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About 50 lawyers provide assistance
Hernández aspires to which the service is u000aextended to all provinces. Around 50 lawyers give assistance to victims in the country, mostly in the National District.

Of legal and administrative personnel salary is paid by the Attorney-General, that also supplies it of materials and equipment, with the annual budget received that institution for its dependencies.

"This is a very hard work, because having a number of records on a daily basis and do serious work is little accountability." "We need be legally sustained and have working conditions to do well, as deserve people who come here," noted.

January last service entered 30 cases. In 2011, the lawyers of the Department represented in courts 412 victims, 64 more than in 2010, which totaled 348.

In 2009 attended 394 and 445 in 2008.

Of 412 cases admitted in 2011, 37 per cent was for homicide, 25% by violence u000adomestic (blows and wounds), 20% for rape and seduction, 15% for aggravated robbery and 3% for fraud and abuse of confidence, and alimony.

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