There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. The Constitution prohibits such practices. There were again allegations of occasional use of excessive force by the police. In one case, a prisoner on remand claimed to have been beaten repeatedly over the course of 2 weeks, a charge supported by subsequent medical examination. The police and the Director of Public Prosecutions have been criticized for failing to investigate fully and prosecute these cases.
Prison conditions are poor.
Overcrowding and unsanitary conditions continue to be problems in Dominica's only prison facility. The prison provides work therapy, sports programs, educational opportunities, and counseling for inmates. The Government permits prison visits by independent human rights monitors. The law requires that police charge persons with a crime within 24 hours after arrest or detention or release them from custody. This is generally honored in practice, although often those arrested on Fridays remain the weekend in jail and are not charged until the following Monday.