Very good observation hermano. I ask myself, the same questions. Maybe you should start a new topic, and copy & paste what you just wrote.

Because some Peoples, living abroad, have no idea, on what's really going, in the DR and just rely on what the Medias feeds them. With there fake ass Survey polls.

Source: http://www.dominicanrepublicpage.com/Questions_2005.html

Dominican Republic is certainly no worse off than many, many other destinations for vacation or retirement (in many regards, it is better off). In terms of the nations capital, Santo Domingo, if you think there is absolutely no crime in a city with close to 4 Million people, you are unrealistic. There is crime. There are robberies. But it is worse than Miami, Florida? Is it worse than Cancun, Mexico? Is it worse than Aruba or New York City, or is it maybe even better? Many, many foreigners have come to the Dominican Republic, have been living in the country for a number of years, and have never had a problem. It is probably safe to say that trouble is the one thing you will always find anywhere in the world, if you take the time to go look for it. Meaning, if your conduct yourself or do some foolish things, like go into a area 3:00AM in the morning that you probably should not, you are asking for the opportunity to have an unpleasant experience. On the other hand, you could have your wallet lifted just as easily (tourist or not) on the New York City Subway as you could on the Subway system in London, Buenos Aires, and a number of other places that tourists might consider to be safe or safer than the Dominican Republic.

The most recent statistics for the number of people incarcerated (in jail) for every 100,000 inhabitants in the following countries is as follows:
.
714 - UNITED STATES (USA)
532 - BERMUDA
487 - CUBA
386 - PUERTO RICO

354 - PANAMA

182 - MEXICO
177 - COSTA RICA
157 - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
142 - ENGLAND
116 - CANADA
100 - NICARAGUA
91 - FRANCE
83 - VENEZUELA
75 - SWEDEN

Source of Information:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/rel/icps/worldbrief/world_brief.html

And it is official, the US wins again with .007 percent of the entire US population behind bars, which is one of the highest rates in the world. Based on these findings we can possibly conclude that: There are more criminals in the Unites States on average than in almost any other place on earth. There are a very high number of criminals in Bermuda - with respect to the amount of crooks in the Dominican Republic. There are actually less people in jail, per capita, in Communist Cuba, than in the United States. There are more crooks in Puerto Rica or Mexico, on a per capita basis than the Dominican Republic. In conclusion, many people have cited rumors or comments that the Dominican Republic is a more dangerous place to visit (in terms of criminality) than somewhere else. However, these statistics would lend one to believe that the US is actually the most crime-ridden country on the planet. Very interesting, but there is more:

Since the definition of HOMICIDE is similar in most countries, absolute comparisons of rates are possible (murder is murder in any language, although the Pan American Health Organization does include murder AND injuries purposely inflicted by another person as part of their definition). From the most recently available statistics, the average rate (the number of homicides per 100,000 population) in the following countries on a national level was as follows:

24.8 - US VIRGIN ISLANDS
22.1 - RUSSIA
18.8 - PUERTO RICO
16.2 - BAHAMAS
13.5 - PANAMA
11.3 - MEXICO
10.6 - UK VIRGIN ISLANDS (BVI)
10.6 - ESTONIA
10.3 - BELIZE
9.7 - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
9.6 - BARBADOS
6.7 - COSTA RICA
6.5 - UNITED STATES
5.8 - CUBA
2.9 - FINLAND
1.5 - CANADA

http://www.paho.org/english/sha/coredata/

Sure, corruption and crime is a MAJOR issue, but the author (a foreigner living in DR) makes a good point.

Well I would have to disagree the statement , I have quoted.

Why does the U.S. have the highest incarceration rates? Is it because there are more crimes committed per capita? Or is it because the U.S. has more resources to prosecute in caparison to poor nations such as Dominican Republic, which does not have resources or a judicial infrastructure to process crimes as does the U.S.

Your statement leaves too many unanswered questions and does not prove whether DR is in fact more safe that other countries. When looking at these stats you should consider.

-The gravity or weight of the crimes
-The economic resources of the country
-The makeshift or the fabric of its society.
-Sentencing procedures, limits or judicial system.

In the DR just as the U.S. (But I would think more so in DR) there are many crimes that simply go unreported for the simple fact that little will be accomplished.

Therefore these stats are really not a good indicator of the level of real crime in the DR. They are only a basis where one begins to ask why are these figures the way they are?

"Or is it because the U.S. has more resources to prosecute in caparison to poor nations such as Dominican Republic, which does not have resources or a judicial infrastructure to process crimes as does the U.S. "
"...Therefore these stats are really not a good indicator of the level of real crime in the DR. They are only a basis where one begins to ask why are these figures the way they are?"

Your post is understandable and I agree with it, but the author's article's main purpose is to help assauge the hypercritism of the Dominican Republic's safety in comparision to other places around the world (by also pointing out some general stats). Look at Colombia-where the most common crime is robbery by drugging or scopolamine-the FARC setting fire to public transportation-I Iove Colombians and the culture, but I mean, it's home to one of the world's longest and bloodiest conflicts. Or Nicaragua, where criminals aren't discouraged by ten foot walls, razor wire and armed guards. And let's not even get into Jamaica (staggering murder tolls, shootings, sexual assaults, lack of police resources). Tourists are advised about these issues when traveling to certain countries.

Poverty, drugs, gangs and politics--all sources for criminal activity in many a place around the world and we don't need stats to back those things up. As the author states-"if you think there is absolutely no crime in a city with close to 4 Million people, you are unrealistic". So what, you need proof as to whether or not DR is safer than other contries-look it up. Besides, i think we've all heard of crimes committed in other countries that are more severe or that there are more dangerous places all over the world. But yeah, todo el mundo sabe que los politicos son una viena seria, y que a la policia no le pagan 'na. I agree that education needs to improve and be provided to more places around DR, definitely. But I don't agree that ALL dominicans leave DR and leave their countries problems behind them (a previous comment you had made about dominicans going back to show off how good they've got it)--there are many dominicans that aren't all about el figureo.

Remember the last hurricane? NY was PACKED with dominicans sending clothes and supplies back home; there are programs like one in NY collecting shoes for poor children to send back to DR, and also, part of the income for many families in DR is from relatives in the states that send back money. If you're dominican, you KNOW that many a dominican that lives in US bring clothes and money for their family and community when they go back to visit. I believe dominicans one of many ethnic groups that have their people's needs with them when they leave DR. A few of my friends (non-hispanics) have said to me "I love how you guys just look out for each other and your families". My mother for one, saw that I was going to give old clothes to the Goodwill and stopped me: "Mira, guarda eso para cuando vamos a Cabrera que ay muchos ninos sin ropa buena." (There are countries where you can't even do that---my mother was with a cuban for over 15 years and when she went to Cuba with him nobody searched their bags, but once when he went by himself from DR (when they had moved to DR he was able to travel to Cuba from DR airport), they took everything from him---he brought shoes, clothes, a dvd player, a radio, even salchichas, for his family y le quitaron casi TODO. Also, I work as a teller and I once had a cuban customer who wanted his bills as clean and new as possible so that when he went to exchange it in Cuba, they couldn't say the bills were unfit and take his money away. What's up with that?)
But yeah, if you mean dominicans outside of DR investing in DR's progress--sure, we could use (and need) more of that.

On a side note, bare in mind that because the US has more resources and a more developed infastructure, there is more manipulation and corruption through these systems-the potential of crime to be more organized and devastating than lesser developed nations. That's not to say that crimes in DR don't greatly effect society (it be ridiculous to say so) but most crimes committed in the DR are classified as "crimes of oppurtunity", like theft, mugging and pocket picking. People who are cooperative with robbers are, most often than not, left unharmed--not to say there haven't been any killings over petty crimes. In the US, the fear of getting caught would have anyone killed on the spot...and all these countless gangs (even comprised of kids) with personal vendettas against cops and certain people-people fighting over territory that doesn't even belong to them-schools that need security guards and metal detectors, heads and bodies found in people's basements, drive-by shootings, BTK, some sh*t is just plain crazy...You (as I) live in the US-you should know. Not that it excuses the DR, pero mucha gente viven equivocado--la cosa esta mala a donde quiera.

I lived in the DR for a year or so and have had an instance myself, but some foriegners agree that if you follow some common-sense rules, you'll be fine for the most part. The dangers present in the Dominican Republic, even in resort areas, are similar to those of many major U.S. cities and most of it is limited to Santo Domingo (although the resorts around Puerto Plata, Playa Dorada or Boca Chica are not as safe as they should be). Also, DR is low on political violence-Dominican's don't really have to worry about terrorism or bombings and kidnappings aren't a common occurence. I think the issue of public safety lies heavily on people posing as public officials to coerce money and info out you( fake cops and AMETs, or posing as hotel associates to gain access to hotel rooms or--the most common--the drive-by robbery (though this can be avoided of being alert of your surroundings and moving out of the way if someone is approaching you). Pero, claro, las cosas estan fuerte.

There is no real statistic available to measure crime because it is simply not covered by the police or any other organization. The truth is, at least 50% of the people I know in santo domingo have been robbed. That is my statistic, but its very dissapointing when you constantly hear about people being robbed. One of our employees got robbed 3 times in the last year. It's ridiculous.

General crime is growing, mainly because the streets are no ones property. People drive the way they want because the police want give you a ticket, the same way, thieves do whatever the want since the police won't do anything.

Actually, many statistics ARE provided by outside organizations (as are the one the author provided for the article, even though they're not a thorough source). But I agree, statistics in general are not precise indicators of the underlying truth, but an observable or overall measurement. And yes, it wouldn't surprise me if statistics provided by Dominican organizations were misrepresented. DR isn't the only place that does this...ex. everyone knows the elections in the US have been rigged in the past. (Recounting votes in Florida because suddenly they were made by inmates (who in the majority appened to be African American? Puh-lease, Bush.) Who wants to broadcast information that will hurt them?

DAMN, robbed three times in one year? That sucks...it's unfortunate. I remember being in a salon in DR one day and and this girl came in crying because some guy on a motorcyle took her purse and she had just gotten a new cell. Tsk.

There is a wave of crime hitting the north of the island,in january my boyfriend was robbed of his passola and shot. Even though he managed to make it to the hospital he died in the morning, and although he told the police who it was they have done nothing. We are left here devastated and meant to be able to go on. Where is the justice??????? There is none IN DR

Ignoring this does not help.

There is a tipping point.

The day a "traveler's warning" is issued by the USA or EU countries, it causes a MAJOR impact on tourism.

It basically shuts down.

Those reports on Embassy sites are very political and can be avoided for some time.
But once one country issues one, usually because of some horrendous crimes against their citizens, it snowballs, and even countries with heavy investments are forced to follow with one themselves.

You keep making suggestions for solutions.

Because the problem is headed in one direction if ignored.

Ignoring this does not help.

There is a tipping point.

The day a "traveler's warning" is issued by the USA or EU countries, it causes a MAJOR impact on tourism.

It basically shuts down.

Those reports on Embassy sites are very political and can be avoided for some time.
But once one country issues one, usually because of some horrendous crimes against their citizens, it snowballs, and even countries with heavy investments are forced to follow with one themselves.

You keep making suggestions for solutions.

Because the problem is headed in one direction if ignored.