Under which Penal Code will he be tried if he committed a crime before?

On Monday, August 3, the Dominican Republic implemented a new Penal Code that introduces dozens of new criminal offenses and increases penalties. Despite the enactment of this updated legislation, judicial authorities will continue to apply the former legal framework in court cases involving offenses committed prior to the new code's entry into force.

The transition highlights the application of established legal principles regarding non-retroactivity in criminal matters within the Dominican Republic. While the modern legislation modernizes the country's penal landscape and imposes stricter punishments, past actions remain bound to the legal standards active at the time of their commission.