Guidance

Information pack for British nationals arrested or detained in Dominican Republic

Updated 23 September 2024

1. Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be definitive, and is not a substitute for independent legal advice. Neither His Majesty’s Government nor its staff take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information, nor accept liability for any loss, costs, damage, or expense that you might suffer as a result of relying on the information. The information contained in this guide is general and factual. You should contact local lawyers for independent legal advice.

2. Key points

2.1 Overview

If you are a British national, and are arrested or detained in another country, consular staff will do what they can to help you. However, we cannot interfere with the local justice system, get you out of jail, or pay for services such as a lawyer. Information about who we can help, including the circumstances in which we can assist dual nationals, is available at: Support for British nationals abroad. You can also request a paper copy from consular staff.

This information pack aims to give you, and your family and friends, information about the local system in Dominican Republic and who can help. Consular staff can provide a printed copy to those in prison or in custody. We welcome feedback to help us improve the information we can provide to others. You can send it to: [email protected]

Contacting us

If you are arrested or detained in another country:

• the authorities should ask whether you want them to contact the British embassy, high commission or consulate (and must do so if you want them to)
• if they do not ask, you can make the request yourself. You should do this if you are charged with a serious offence or need any kind of assistance
• friends or family can also contact the local British embassy, high commission or consulate or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London on +44 (0)20 7008 5000

In some countries, the authorities might notify the British embassy, high commission or consulate even if you do not want anyone to know that you have been arrested. This is because there may be an agreement in place with the British government which requires a mandatory notification to be made.

Who we are

Consular staff work in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in the UK, and in British embassies, high commissions and consulates overseas.

British Embassy in Santo Domingo

Ave. Winston Churchill 1099, Floor 18

Torre Citigroup at Acropolis Centre

Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional

Tel. +1 809 472 7111

Email: [email protected]

You can also contact us by phone 24/7 for help or advice from anywhere in the world by calling the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

What we can do

The FCDO can offer you impartial and non-judgemental help. When we are notified of your arrest or detention, we will aim to contact you as soon as possible, so that we can assess how we can help you. We then aim to provide assistance according to your individual circumstances and local conditions. Our priority is to provide assistance to those British nationals overseas that need our help the most.

In Dominican Republic, notification by the authorities to the consulate normally takes place within 24 hours/the next working day.

We can also:

• provide a list of local English-speaking lawyers and interpreters. See also the section The Dominican judicial system.
• provide general information about the country, detention conditions, and the local legal system (including if legal aid is available).
• provide general information about the local prison or remand system, including visiting arrangements, mail and censorship, privileges, and welfare services.
• keep in regular contact with you, either by visiting or by telephone/letter. The frequency of contact will depend on local conditions and your personal circumstances.
• tell the police or prison doctor, with your permission, about any medical or dental problems including medication.
• put you, or your family, in touch with a prisoners’ welfare charity called Prisoners Abroad.
• in some circumstances we may be able to help take up complaints with the police or prison authorities about ill treatment, personal safety, or discrimination, if you are not treated in line with internationally recognised standards.
• help to transfer money to you from your friends or family. In places where phone or postal services are not available we can also try to pass on messages and deliver letters to the prison (but generally we cannot arrange for delivery directly to you).
• there is no prison transfer agreement between the Dominican Republic and the UK.

What we cannot do

• Get you out of prison or detention.
• Help you get special treatment because you are British.
• Offer legal advice, start legal proceedings or investigate a crime.
• Pay for any costs because you have been arrested.
• Forward you packages sent by friends or family.
• Prevent authorities from deporting you after release.

2.2 First steps

Informing family members

If you want us to, we can tell your family or friends that you have been detained and provide them with information about how to contact you. With your consent, we can also keep them updated on your wellbeing.

If you are not sure about informing your family, we can help you consider what the impact of not doing so might be. For example, it may cause them distress if they do not know where you are, or cannot contact you. It can also be a disadvantage to you if you need someone to send you money or act on your behalf while you are detained.

Informing the UK police

If you are accused of certain serious offences, such as sexual assault or drugs trafficking, we are obliged to share information about your arrest with UK police. Information about this may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer. There may be other circumstances when information about you may need to be shared with authorities in Dominican Republic.

Legal assistance: lawyers

We cannot give legal advice, start legal proceedings, or investigate a crime. However, we can provide information about the local legal system, including whether a legal aid scheme is available. We can also give you a list of local interpreters and a list of local English-speaking lawyers. You should consider the benefits of local legal representation and discuss all the costs beforehand with the legal representative. We cannot pay your legal or interpretation costs in any circumstance.

Consular assistance: fair treatment

We cannot get you out of prison or detention, or get you special treatment because you are British. If you are not treated in line with internationally accepted standards, we will consider whether to approach the local authorities. This may include if your trial does not follow internationally recognised standards or is unreasonably delayed compared to local cases.

We can put you, or your family, in touch with Prisoners Abroad, a UK charity which supports British citizens detained overseas and their families.

3. Detention conditions in Dominican Republic

3.1 Visits: friends and family

Who can visit and how to arrange visits

You should consult FCDO travel advice before you travel to Dominican Republic for the latest information on safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings.

We advise the family and friends to contact us well in advance (three weeks) so that we can inform the prison authorities and work on the visiting programme.

In order to receive visitors you should provide the prison with the names of the people visiting you for them to be added to the Prison Visiting list.

Visitors must identify themselves when they arrive at the prison by showing an identification document containing a photograph (e.g. passport). This is held by the prison and returned at the end of the visit. Visitors will be searched before entering the prison.

In the majority of the New Model System prisons you are allowed to receive visitors on Sundays, up to 8 adults and 8 children maximum are allowed per prisoner per day. Old Model System prisons allow visits on different days of the week and there is no restriction on number of visitors.

Please check with the prison social workers for visiting schedules and how many visitors are allowed at any one time.

Priests and representatives from local church groups or non-government organisations visit the prisons frequently.

When family members come from the UK for visits consular staff try to arrange extra visit days considering the distance families had to travel to see you. These extra days are given by the prison authorities and the decision is discretionary.

What to expect when you visit

Visits take place in an open hall with other inmates and their visitors. Visits regularly last 1 hour and 45 minutes. Guards oversee the visiting area.

What you can take on your visit

Regulations vary from one prison to another. In the Old Model System visitors can bring money, food and reading material.

In the New Model System food and other items are not allowed, visitors can only bring money which will be deposited in your prison account. You will have access to your funds through tickets which are valid to buy items from the prison canteen.

All bags and parcels will be searched before entry and authorities have the right to withhold items they deem to be unacceptable (amongst others, weapons, knives, alcohol, drugs, sunglasses, caps, play cards, food, medicines).

Visitors should provide a list of items they intend to bring in advance to be approved by prison authorities. This approval may be discretionary.

Visits: consular staff

We will visit you every three months; during our routine visits you will have the opportunity to discuss any health issues, security concerns, your treatment in prison and any other general issues that you wish to raise with our Consular staff. At each Consular visit, our staff will complete a “Visit Report Form”. If there is any information that you would prefer not to disclose to a Next of Kin you should let us know during the visit.

If you wish to speak with us before the visit, you can request prison authorities to contact us.

Emergency trips outside of prison

Trips outside of prison are not permitted.

3.2 Police custody and initial arrival at prison

Arriving at the police station: your basic rights

When someone is arrested they are taken to the Police’s detention facility in the first instance. They will be informed of the charge and translated if necessary as mandated by law. A public defender will be assigned to the detainee by the District Attorney to make them aware of their rights and the due process as well as be present during questioning or statement delivery. There are translators available but are subject to availability.

Detainees are allowed to make a local phone call. Authorities inform the British Embassy when a British Citizen is arrested.

The case is presented to the court by the District Attorney within 48 hours. This timeframe could be extended depending on circumstances, eg. availability of public defendants/translators, workload volume of the courts. If the court’s Magistrate finds grounds to file a case, the District Attorney has 12-18 months to conclude the investigations to instrument the case. The detainee is sent to prison on remand until investigations are concluded and a trial takes place and reaches a verdict.

Remanded and sentenced prisoners are not segregated.

Appearing at court

There is no jury system in the Dominican Republic. Courts are usually made up of three legal representatives, the secretary of the tribunal (court), the prosecutor, the lawyer, the accuser, the accused, and the translator/interpreter. It is compulsory that all the above are present at the court hearing, otherwise it will be delayed or rescheduled.

All documents related to a case and further evidence must be submitted to the president of the court. The trial will be heard in Spanish. Dominican law states that an interpreter should be provided by the State. However if there is none available the day of your hearing, you would need to appoint and pay for an interpreter. Consular staff cannot act as interpreters.

Read more about the Dominican judicial system.

Initial arrival at the prison

All prisoners are registered in the prison system. Upon your arrival to the designated prison, Prison officers will conduct a search and place you temporarily in a holding cell until sanitary protocols are completed.

Medical checks will be carried out by the prison’s health department in order to assess if you need any treatment for ongoing medical conditions (e.g. blood pressure, diabetes, HIV). Generally, costs of medication for ongoing treatments have to be met by the inmates. Funds for these purposes may be accessible through charities such as Prisoners Abroad.

Any personal belongings that are not part of the investigation, process, or evidence will be sent to the prison for you to keep though there may be limited storage space to keep them. It is not unusual for some belongings to go missing right after arrest or during prison transfers. Passports will be impounded by the judicial authorities. The British Embassy cannot store your personal belongings on your behalf.

Usually there is access to a public telephone and prisoners have to pay for international calls. You can request Prison authorities to make a call to the British Embassy should you need to speak to us.

3.3 Prison: conditions and daily life

The Dominican Prison System underwent a comprehensive review whereby all prisons are scheduled to become New Model Prisons based on the more modern concepts of prison management and rehabilitation of the convicted, whilst there are still prisons that correspond to the Old Model in existence.

The New Model prisons have better conditions for inmates and prison staff is more professional. In these prisons each cell has a toilet and wash basin. Showers are generally separate and shared with the other cells.

Old Model prison conditions are poor/harsh and over-crowding is a major problem, resulting in poor sanitary conditions, violence and prostitution. It is common for items to be bought and sold amongst inmates outside of prison policies, which entails sanctions.

Foreigners are usually detained in New Model prisons but if you are detained in one of the Old Model prisons consular staff could ask the authorities that you be transferred to a new model prison but only after a sentence has been issued.

Accommodation

Remanded and sentenced prisoners are not segregated.

In the New Model prisons cells are more spacious and can be shared with other inmates. They each have toilets and wash basins. Showers are generally separate and shared with the other cells. Sleeping accommodations are bunk beds with mattresses. Most of these prisons have natural light.

In the Old Model prison cells are overcrowded and with poor sanitary conditions. Beds consist of a concrete base with a mattress. Some of these prisons have natural light.

Food and diet

There is basic provision of food within the prison. Prison food is free but is rarely sufficient to fulfil your dietary needs. You will need funds to pay for food to vary or supplement your diet, which can be bought from the prison canteen, when available. Supplements such as vitamins will need to be supported by a prescription and need to be funded by the prisoner.

Drinking water is available.

Hygiene

In the New Model prisons inmates have basic toiletries assigned. There are set moments for showering.

In the Old Model prisons sanitary conditions are poor. Running water can be disrupted and showers are communal and can be overcrowded. Inmates have to procure their own toiletries.

Work and study

There is little opportunity for employment, especially for those who do not speak Spanish.

In New Model prisons there are some job opportunities in the kitchen, the carpentry or electricity workshops, which are the most popular options.

New Model Prisons offer basic courses such as electricity, bakery and carpentry, as well as hairdressing and crafting. Inmates would also participate in the prison’s orchard works.

In the Old Model prisons access to these courses can be challenging due to overcrowding and security issues.

Informal Spanish lessons are offered to foreigners by local inmates. Prisoners Abroad can provide language dictionaries. Postal studies are not possible.

Contact and languages

Interaction with other inmates is permitted. Guards do not speak English

Informal Spanish lessons are offered to foreigners by local inmates. Prisoners Abroad can provide language dictionaries. It is possible to request local language reading materials and dictionaries from Prisoners Abroad.

There is no internet access provided by the prisons. Inmates would have to procure writing materials.

There are public phones in the prisons, however in the Old Model Prisons they may not be functioning.

You can request local language materials through the post from Prisoners Abroad (including language textbooks and dictionaries). These will have to be sent via the British Embassy.

Exercise

Prisoners are allowed several hours per day (this varies from one prison to another) in the patio for recreational activities. In the New Model prisons there are TV sets available for inmates in common areas.

In the Old Model prisons radios, TV sets and fans are accepted if inmates can afford them. To note that having expensive items in your cell may attract unwanted attention from other inmates. In the new model prison, inmates cannot have any of these items.

Most prisons have a gym, but often they are not properly equipped.

Climate

Climate is very hot and humid in summer. Clothing provided is weather appropriate.

Religion

Some religious services may be available. Inmates can receive visits from ministers of faith. Detention facilities are not staffed by religious ministers?

Rules and regulations (including drugs)

Prison rules and regulations are explained to prisoners upon arrival. Inmates should avoid unacceptable behaviour and abide by the rules. Sanctions may include confinement and not being allowed to go out into the common areas.

Though prison authorities do not accept this, drugs could be available within prisons. You should avoid using drugs in prison. You may face further charges for this. If you create personal debts within the prison these can result in accelerated rates of interest and if not paid off, could result in serious verbal and physical harassment.

With regards to tobacco cigarettes: these are not allowed in the New Model Prisons. In the Old Model Prisons it may be possible to obtain tobacco cigarettes.

3.4 Prison: access to help and services

Receiving money

There are 2 ways you may be able to receive financial assistance while in prison:

• Private funds: deposited to you by your family or friends.
• Prisoners Abroad: depending on where you are detained, if your family cannot support you financially, Prisoners Abroad may be able to send you a small grant every quarter for essentials (enough for one hot meal a day).

The UK government does not provide financial assistance to prisoners.

Prisoners will not be able to receive money directly from family members (eg. into a prison bank account).

Private funds

While the FCDO does not provide financial assistance to prisoners, we may be able, within certain limits, to send you money from your family or friends. Please note that you cannot have cash sent to you in the post.

The FCDO operates a ‘Prison Comfort’ system for money transfers to prisoners. Ask your family or friends to get in touch with the FCDO to arrange this.

We cannot receive payment by credit or debit card, or by cash.

Prisoners Abroad

Prisoners Abroad may be able to assist you with funding for prison essentials and some medical care if you are not receiving regular funding from other sources. Prisoners are eligible for all three Prisoners Abroad Funds – the Craig Feehan Fund, the Vitamin Fund and/or the Medical Fund.

Medical and Dental treatment

While you are detained, Dominican Republic is responsible for ensuring your basic medical needs are met.

While you are in detention, Dominican Republic is responsible for ensuring your basic medical needs are met.

There is a prison doctor (GP) as well as a dentist available. Prison Social Workers provide Psychological assistance. Inmates should inform the Social Workers if they need to see a doctor. Basic medication is available but inmates must pay for ongoing treatment medication. Medication is available but inmate relies on prison’s capacity to send for it.

Prison authorities would make proper arrangements for inmates to receive specialist’s treatments/assessments in public hospital facilities, including psychiatric treatment. Prisoners will have access to an ophthalmologist but they would have to buy their glasses if they need them.

Prison authorities would make proper arrangements for medical emergencies.

With your permission, we can make sure that any medical or dental problems you might have are brought to the attention of any police or prison doctor. We can also contact your GP in the UK, if the police or prison doctor requests previous medical records.

Letters and parcels

Friends and family can send mail and small parcels to the Embassy and we deliver to the prison on the next consular visit. The Embassy is not able to forward mail on your behalf back to the UK. All letters are opened and checked by prison staff before they are given to prisoners. Mail cannot be sent directly to the prison from the UK since there is no postal system in the prison.

Food items, card games, pieces of clothing with signage and medication are not permitted in parcels.

Telephone calls

There is usually access to a public telephone which would be in high demand and can only be used in designated hours. These telephones can be used by purchasing calling cards. Prisoners have to pay for international calls.

Mobile phones are not allowed within the prisons. If you are caught trying to use a mobile phone inside a New Model prisons you will be penalised and may be sent to confinement for a period. Many prisoners are able to hold mobile telephones in the Old Model prisons.

Making a complaint about mistreatment

If you have been mistreated, you should inform consular staff as soon as it is safe for you to do so. We will then do our best to visit you, to check on your welfare, discuss the allegations, and explain any local complaints procedures and supportive organisations that you may wish to consider. With your permission, and where appropriate, we will consider approaching the local authorities if you have not been treated in line with internationally-accepted standards. If you have been mistreated, try to see a doctor, obtain a medical report and if possible take photos of your injuries.

In the New Model system, prisoners can address such complaints to the Head Supervisor. In the Old Model system, prisoners must address the Prison Warden. In both cases it must be done on writing detailing the event and name of the perpetrator. A private lawyer could assist you with this.

4. The Dominican judicial system

4.1 Overview

The legal process in Dominican Republic is dictated by the Criminal Procedure Code.

Prisoners are presumed innocent until proven guilty, they will be informed of the charge and translated if necessary as mandated by law. A public defender will be assigned to the detainee by the District Attorney to make them aware of their rights and the due process as well as be present during questioning or statement delivery. There are translators available but are subject to availability.

Detainees are allowed to make a local phone call. Authorities inform the British Embassy when a British Citizen is arrested.

The case is presented to the court by the District Attorney within 48 hours. This timeframe could be extended depending on circumstances, eg. availability of public defendants/translators, workload volume of the courts. If the court’s Magistrate finds grounds to file a case, the District Attorney has 12-18 months to conclude the investigations to instrument the case. The detainee is sent to prison on remand until investigations are concluded and a trial takes place and reaches a verdict.

They have a right to a legal representative, interpreter, fair trial and appeal. The remand period, in which the state prosecutor leads the investigation of your case, could be of three to eighteen months. Time served on remand will be counted as part of your sentence.

The Dominican judicial system is very bureaucratic. Also, lawyers can charge outrageous sums of money, make grand promises and deliver very little. Prisoners can remain in prison without having been sentenced for well over a year.

You should not sign anything you cannot read. If you find yourself under pressure to sign, ask to speak to the British Embassy.

The FCDO cannot interfere with the judicial system. We cannot ask for your case to be judged more quickly just because you are British, or ask the authorities to waive any penalties.

4.2 First steps

What should happen after you are arrested

When someone is arrested they are taken to the Police’s detention facility in the first instance. They will be informed of the charge and translated if necessary as mandated by law. A public defender will be assigned to the detainee by the District Attorney to make them aware of their rights and the due process as well as be present during questioning or statement delivery. There are translators available but are subject to availability.

Detainees are allowed to make a local phone call. Authorities inform the British Embassy when a British Citizen is arrested. You can also ask them to do so. If you cannot afford a private lawyer or interpreter the Dominican government will appoint a public defender and an interpreter for you.

The case is presented to the court by the District Attorney within 48 hours. This timeframe could be extended depending on circumstances, eg. availability of public defendants/translators, workload volume of the courts. If the court’s Magistrate finds grounds to file a case, the District Attorney has 12-18 months to conclude the investigations to instrument the case. The detainee is sent to prison on remand until investigations are concluded and a trial takes place and a verdict is reached.

If you are arrested at the airport you will initially spend some time in a police cell near the airport. Police should read the charges and your rights. You will be taken to the competent authority (prosecutor) usually within 48 hours. Whilst you are there, the prosecutor will gather evidence and interrogate you. In the case of drug offences, you will be permitted to appoint a lawyer and interpreter shortly before giving your statement. You will then be placed on remand.

If you have any questions on the legal aspects of your arrest, contact your lawyer. See a list of local English-speaking lawyers in Dominican Republic.

How long you can be remanded in custody

The remand period, in which the District Attorney leads the investigation of your case, has a statutory limit of 12 months, which can be extended for 6 additional months if an appeal has been filed. Detainees on remand are usually sent to prison. A trial could last two - three years.

Time served on remand may be counted as part of your sentence. You can receive visitors whilst on remand. Remanded and sentenced prisoners are not segregated.

Prisoners on remand and sentenced prisoners: differences

Detainees on remand are usually sent to prison.

Time served on remand may be counted as part of your sentence. You can receive visitors whilst on remand. Remanded and sentenced prisoners are not segregated.

After you are charged

The lawyer and the detainee are immediately notified of the charges. A Preliminary Hearing before the Examining Court Judge should take place within 15-45 days after formal charges have been laid. In practice, this does not always happen (it is often much longer). At this hearing the District Attorney must present the evidence that supports the charges that will be used in a trial. The Court must determine if there are enough elements to order a trial. This could happen immediately after the hearing. The District Attorney has to request a preliminary measure/remand to guarantee the presence of the detainee during the investigation prior to the trial.

The judge has the authority to order the preliminary -restraining measures considered more adequate while the investigation is taking place. These could be prison, prohibition to leave the country or residence, obligation to be under the care of an institution or person, obligation to report periodically to the judge or any other authority, electronic tagging and house arrest. Bail can be ordered by the Examining Court as one of these measures. If the restraining measure ordered by the judge is prison, it must be reviewed every 3 months

Hearings can be adjourned several times.

Bail

It is possible to request the review of the restraining measure and apply for bail. Bail is always a possibility, but it is not a right. Bails are ordered by the judge.

When deciding on the bail, the judge sets the amount, the manner in which such guarantee must be presented and assesses the suitability of this guarantee. Bail must be paid at the National Reserve Bank. The court will need to see a bank receipt.

The judge will consider the fact that the detainee does not present danger of escaping when deciding on bail. The detainee’s passport may be kept by the court.

If bail conditions are not met, the court will impose another measure. The judge grants a term of 15 to 45 days for the detainee to show. If detainee fails to show the judge will enforce the bail.

If your situation changes whilst on bail and you can no longer support yourself you will need to seek financial support through family and friends.

The FCDO cannot transfer bail funds.

4.3 Trial and legal assistance

Legal assistance: lawyers and legal aid

If you wish to hire a private lawyer, see for a list of English-speaking lawyers. Prisoners Abroad can also supply general (non-country specific) information on legal aid, court proceedings and can advise on appointing a lawyer.

Consular staff cannot give legal advice. You can hire a lawyer for yourself at any time after your arrest. Normally, if you hire a private lawyer they will ask for a cash advance on their estimated legal fees (which may be very high) before they will take your case on. The British Embassy cannot pay legal fees or guarantee a lawyer that you will pay them.

Some lawyers may be better than others (paying a large fee does not guarantee that you will get a good lawyer). If you do decide to pay for a lawyer, it is wise to agree a flat fee for the whole case before they begin work or you may find yourself facing ‘extra expenses’.

If you do not have funds to hire a private lawyer, legal aid lawyers are free of charge but they rarely speak English and their ability varies. On the whole, given their heavy workload, legal aid lawyers will not make much effort to compile evidence and move a case forward.

If you cannot afford a private lawyer or interpreter the Dominican government will appoint a public defender and an interpreter for you. Interpreters can be subject to availability at given times.

Trial

Trial Stages:

Investigation. During the investigation the Examining Court may impose a coercive measure to guarantee the participation of the detainee in the trial.

Preliminary Hearing. At this hearing the prosecutor must present to the judge all the evidence that supports the accusation and that will be used during the trial, if ordered. The Court must determine whether there are enough elements that support the accusation to order the trial.

Formal trial. The Court has to determine if the defendant is guilty and issue the sentence.

A Preliminary Hearing before the Examining Court Judge should take place within 15-45 days after formal charges have been laid. In practice, this does not always happen (it is often much longer).

There is no jury system in the Dominican Republic. Courts are usually made up of three legal representatives, the secretary of the tribunal (court), the prosecutor, the lawyer, the accuser, the accused, and the translator/interpreter. It is compulsory that all the above are present at the court hearing, otherwise it will be delayed or rescheduled.

All documents related to a case and further evidence must be submitted to the president of the court. The trial will be heard in Spanish. Dominican law states that an interpreter should be provided by the State. However if there is none available the day of your hearing, you would need to appoint and pay for an interpreter. Consular staff cannot act as interpreters.

Sentences

Sentences are determined by the Criminal Court Judge observing the criteria set out on the Criminal Procedure Code. The Criminal Procedure code along with specialized laws that identify the elements of a crime or offence, establish the corresponding sanctions. Hence the length of sentences may vary from case to case. The maximum sentence is 40 years. Lawyers/public defenders are best placed to discuss length of sentences.

At the end of your sentence and after payment of any fine imposed, you will be deported to the UK at your own expense. Friends or family can help you purchase a return air ticket.

Appeals

The accused has the right to appeal their sentence through their lawyer or public defender.

The appeals process for a criminal conviction would go before the Court of Appeals which must be filed within 20 days after service of the judgement. This could be followed by an appeal to the Supreme Court which must be filed within 1 month after service of the appeals judgement.

The appeals process can be very slow. It is strongly recommended to obtain a lawyer’s opinion of the case before proceeding.

The prosecution can also appeal a judgement in which case the defendant can be given a harsher sentence.

The revision of a judgement is available when it is further demonstrated that the evidence used to condemn the defendant was false and when new elements appear that show the innocence of the defendant.

4.4 Reaching the end of your sentence

Reduction of sentence (remission)

When sentenced the judge has the option to decide if time served on remand will be taken into consideration; this is not automatic. Once convicted, prison authorities will advise prisoners of the terms of their sentence, included the expected date of release. It is normal practice for prisoners to serve at least two-thirds of their sentence.

Early release

Prisoners can apply for early release after serving half of their sentence provided they have observed a good conduct in prison and other requirements in the law. The defendant’s lawyer would be responsible for submitting this application to the court. Lawyers/public defenders are best placed to advice on this matter.

Early release is only granted to foreign nationals if they have a sponsor who guarantees employment and accommodation for them until the end of their sentence. Foreigners cannot leave the Dominican Republic until the end of their sentence.

Clemency or pardon

Under Dominican law the provision that exists is the pardon granted by the President. The individual may send a letter to the president asking for the pardon but there is no regulation nor eligibility criteria for this. It is within the President’s discretion. Your legal representative or lawyer can assist you with this process.

Financial penalties

The Judge could enforce a fine as part of the sentence. If this is the case prisoner is not released until the fine is paid. Fines could be exempted or paid in instalments at the discretion of the court. Seek advice from a lawyer for this matter.

Transfer to another prison within the Dominican Republic

Transfers to other prisons are only permitted when there are exceptional compassionate or medical reasons for doing so and would have to be authorised by the prison’s General Director. If you are interested in a transfer, please speak to the Embassy who can raise your request in writing with the prison authorities for them to evaluate.

Transfer to a prison in the UK

There is no Prisoner Transfer Agreement between the UK and Dominican Republic.

Release and deportation

At the end of your sentence, and after payment of any fine imposed, you will be deported to the UK at your own expense. Friends or family can help to buy you a return air ticket. We can help you get in touch with friends and family and to understand the process.

Long-term residents will be able to stay in the country at the end of their sentence.

Sometimes people find that they face difficulties adjusting to life in the UK once they have left prison. You may find yourself ready for life on the outside but not prepared for living in the UK. You may not have lived in the UK before and have no connections there, or perhaps you have lost touch with friends and family. You may want to talk to another person who understands what you have been through, to help you consider what to do next.

If you are registered with Prisoners Abroad, you can visit Prisoners Abroad when you first arrive back in UK for advice, to use their temporary luggage store, make essential phone calls or use a computer. If you have no belongings Prisoners Abroad may be able to help with basic toiletries and finding suitable clothing. If you know your release date in advance you should tell the Prisoner and Family Support Teamwhen you are likely to arrive and what help you think you might need. If you have no money and nowhere to go, Prisoners Abroad’s Resettlement Service can help with:

• advice on finding emergency accommodation in the London area.
• claiming welfare benefits, including emergency benefit payments if you are destitute.
• making appointments with doctors and dentists.
• putting you in touch with local agencies if you are not returning to the London area.

Later on you may want advice on housing, looking for work, applying for training or getting counselling. Prisoners Abroad can refer you to the right agency.

Other sources of practical help back in the UK are:

The Salvation Army

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7367 4888

Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm, or contact your local Salvation Army branch

The Prison Fellowship

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7799 2500

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Your criminal record in the UK

We will not normally pass on information about your case to a third party without your consent. However, if you’re arrested for certain serious offences, such as child sex abuse or drugs crimes, our staff must tell other relevant UK authorities. It is possible that information about this may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer.

5. Additional information

5.1 Prisoners Abroad

Since 1978 the charity Prisoners Abroad has offered practical support and advice to British citizens imprisoned abroad. It is the only UK charity providing this service. It is available to all, whether guilty or innocent, convicted or awaiting charge or trial. Prisoners Abroad supports your health and welfare during your imprisonment. It can also provide support on your return to the UK, through their resettlement service (if you have registered whilst in prison). They can also provide support and advice to your family when you are in prison. To access any services, you must first register with Prisoners Abroad by signing and returning their authorisation form.

Once you seek help from Prisoners Abroad, the Prisoner & Family Support Service will be your point of contact for advice and information. The type of assistance they can offer varies from country to country, but generally they can provide you with information, in English, on:

• your rights as a prisoner.
• issues that may affect you such as health or transfer to the UK.
• getting magazines, newspapers, books and the regular Prisoners Abroad newsletter.
• learning the language of your country of imprisonment.
• translating documents.
• grants for food if you are in a developing country and do not have funds from other sources.
• grants for essential medicines and toiletries if you do not have funds from other sources.
• preparing for release.
• help for your loved ones, including information, family support groups and, in a few cases, assistance with the cost of visiting.
• Freepost envelopes to help you stay in touch with others.

Prisoners Abroad

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7561 6820 or 0808 172 0098

Mondays to Fridays 9:30am to 4:30pm (UK time)

89 – 93 Fonthill Road

London N4 3JH

UK

5.2 Glossary of terms

Useful legal terms

District Attorney/Prosecutor - Fiscal

Used to refer to the District Attorney or a Judge - Magistrado

Lawyer – Abogado

Jailed on Remand – Preso preventivo

Remand Measures – Medidas de Coherción

Bail – Fianza

Hearing – Audiencia

Trial – Juicio

Court – Tribunal/Corte

Key phrases – English into Spanish

In Spanish all nouns have a gender, either masculine or feminine (for example, the word for ‘house’ (casa) is a feminine noun so ‘a house’/’the house’ is translated as ‘una casa’/’la casa’. The word for ‘book’ (libro) is a masculine noun so ‘a book’/’the book’ is translated as ‘un libro’/’el libro’).

The gender of the word will affect adjectives which refer to that word. For example, if you want to say ‘the red house’ you would say ‘la casa roja’. If you wanted to say ‘a red book’ you would say ‘un libro rojo’.

Where appropriate, the gender of each form of the word has been given below: masculine forms of the word are denoted by ‘(m)’, feminine by ‘(f)’. The plural form of the word (i.e when there is more than one of the object concerned) is denoted by ‘pl’. So, ‘these houses’ would appear as ‘estas casas (fpl)’ and ‘those books’ would appear as ‘esos libros (mpl)’.

Accents may appear above certain vowels, helping pronunciation by indicating where the stress should be placed in that particular word (e.g. prisión, miércoles, teléfono). In the absence of accents, words ending in either a vowel or …n / …s will have stress placed on the penultimate syllable (e.g. nosotros, transferido, urgente). If the word ends in a consonant other than …n / …s, the last syllable is stressed (e.g. necesitar, enfermedad, español).

(In Spanish, there are two verbs which translate as „to be‟: „ser‟ and „estar‟. „Ser‟ is meant to convey something permanent (e.g. „I am English‟, „I am a man‟), and „estar‟ is meant to convey something more temporary like a mood or emotion (e.g. „I am ill‟, or „I am happy‟).

To be	Ser
I am	yo soy
you (singular) are	tú eres
he/she is	él/ella es
we are	nosotros/as somos
you (plural) are	ustedes son
they are	ellos/as son

To be	Estar
I am	yo estoy
you (singular) are	tu estas
he/she	el/ella esta
we are	nosotros/as estamos
you (plural) are	ustedes estan
they are	ellos/as estan
To want/I want	Querer/yo quiero
To need/I need	Necesitar/yo necesito
To feel/I feel	Sentir/yo siento
To have to/I have to	Tener que/yo tengo que
To see/I see	Ver/yo veo
To use/I use	Usar/yo uso
To speak/I speak	Hablar/yo hablo
To write/I write	Escribir/yo escribo
To go/I go	Ir/yo voy
To be able to/I can	Poder/yo puedo
To give/I give	Dar/yo doy

To have	Tener
I have	yo tengo
you (singular) have	tu tienes
he/she has	el/ella tiene
we have	nosotros/as tenemos
you (plural) have	ustedes tienen
they have	ellos/ast tienen

Prepositions

English	Spanish
After	Despues
Before	Antes
During	Durante
Since	Desde
Until	Hasta
In/inside	En/dentro
Outside	Fuera
At	En
From	De/desde
On	En/Encima
Under/below/beneath	Debajo
Above	Encima
Over	Por encima de
Beside/next to/by	Al lado de
Near to	Cerca de
Through	A traves
Towards	Hacia
Behind	Detras
Between	Entre
Opposite	En frente
With	Con
Without	Sin

Basics

English	Spanish
My name is	Me llamo
I am… (E.g. I am English)	Soy…
The	El/La/Los/Las
A	Un/Una/Unos/Unas
It	Lo/la/le
I/We/Me	Yo/Nosotros/Yo
What/Which	Qué/Cuál
Left	Izquierda
Right	Derecha
Here	Aquí
There	Ahí
What day does the…	¿Qué día…?
I cannot…	No puedo…
Hello	Hola
Good afternoon	Buenas tardes
Good evening	Buenas tardes
Good night	Buenas noches
How are you?	¿Cómo estás?
Fine thanks and you?	Bien gracias, ¿y tú?
Excuse me	Perdone
See you later	Hasta luego
Yes	Sí
No	No
Please	Por favor
Thank you	Gracias
I don’t know	No sé
Could you repeat that more slowly?	¿Puedes repetir más despacio?
I don’t understand	No entiendo
I do not speak Spanish very well	No hablo muy bien español
I am sorry to bother you but…	Siento molestarte pero….
May I borrow your…	¿Me prestas tu…?
How can I obtain…?	¿Cómo puedo obtener…?
Is there any mail for me?	¿Hay correo para mí?
How much does this cost?	¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
Do you mind if I open the window?	¿Te importa si abro la ventana?
Do you mind if I smoke?	¿Te importa si fumo?
Could you kindly write that down for me?	¿Podrías escribir eso para mí por favor?
Do you have the correct time?	¿Tienes la hora correcta?
What is your nationality?	¿Cuál es tu nacionalidad?
The telephone is out of order	El teléfono no funciona
I do not have any means to buy…	No me puedo permitir comprar…
I would like to order…	Me gustaría pedir…
This is urgent	Esto es urgente
May I make an appointment to see…	¿Podría fijar una cita con…?
I need to see my lawyer	Necesito ver a mi abogado
Can I have a list of local English-speaking lawyers?	¿Me das una lista de abogados que hablen inglés?
Who is dealing with my case?	¿Quién está a cargo de mi caso?
Does the prison have a list of translators?	¿Hay una lista de traductores en la prisión?
Can I get bail?	¿Puedo pedir la libertad bajo fianza?
Can you tell me how long I will be held in police custody before I get transferred to a prison?	¿Me podrías decir cuánto tiempo estaré detenido antes de ser transferido a una prisión?
What must I do to get transferred to another prison?	¿Qué debo hacer para ser transferido a otra prisión?
Can you tell me how long my sentence is?	¿Me podrías decir cuánto tiempo durará mi sentencia?
Can you tell me the date my sentence finishes?	¿Me podrías decir la fecha en que mi sentencia terminará?
Can I move to Mr…..‟s cell as he speaks English?	¿Me puedo cambiar a la celda del Sr…., ya que habla inglés?
Can Mr… move into this cell?	¿Puede el Sr… cambiarse a esta celda?
I am very cold; can I have an extra blanket please?	Tengo mucho frío, ¿me das otra manta por favor?
When is the shop open?	¿Cuándo abre la tienda?
How much money do I have in my account?	¿Cuánto dinero tengo en mi cuenta?
What day does the doctor come? What time?	¿Qué día viene el médico? ¿A qué hora?
Is there any work that I can do?	¿Hay algún trabajo que puedo hacer?
I would like to work in the…	Me gustaría trabajar en el/la….
Can you show me what I must do?	¿Me puedes enseñar lo qué debo hacer?
Could I buy a Spanish/English dictionary?	¿Podría comprar un diccionario de inglés/español?
Can you contact the Consul for me?	¿Puedes contactar el cónsul para mí?
I want to make a complaint	Quiero poner una queja
Can I have permission for my family to send me….?	Me gustaría pedir permiso para que mi familia me envíe…
As I am not allowed visits, could I have a parcel of clothes sent to the prison?	Como no tengo permitido ninguna visita, ¿se me podría enviar un paquete de ropa a la prisión?
Are there any items which they are not permitted to send me?	¿Hay algo que no pueden enviarme?
I want to send this letter to…	Quiero enviar esta carta a…
Why are my letters taking so long to get to my family?	¿Por qué mis cartas tardan tanto en llegar a mi familia?
I have not heard from my family and I am worried about them	No sé nada de mi familia y estoy preocupado/a por ellos
How do I arrange a visit for my family?	¿Qué tengo que hacer para arreglar una visita de mi familia?
Can you confirm that my family has booked a visit for (a specific date)?	¿Podrías confirmar qué día ha reservado mi familia para visitarme?
May I have an extended visit as I do not get many and my family has to travel a long way?	¿Podría pedir una visita más larga ya que no recibo muchas visitas y mi familia tiene que viajar de lejos?
Could I go to the prison school to learn Spanish?	¿Podría ir a las clases de la prisión para aprender español?
Could you give this letter to Mr… cell no…. so he can translate it for me?	¿Podrías darle esta carta al Sr…. celda número… para que la traduzca para mí?

Time/days/numbers

English	Spanish
Today	Hoy
Tommorrow	Mañana
Morning	Mañana
Afternoon	Tarde
Night	Noche
Next week	La próxima semana
Next month	El próximo mes
Next year	El próximo año
Last week	La semana pasada
Last month	El mes pasado
Last year	El año pasado
Weekend	Fin de semana
Monday	Lunes
Tuesday	Martes
Wednesday	Miercoles
Thursday	Jueves
Friday	Viernes
Saturday	Sabado
Sunday	Domingo
January	Enero
February	Febrero
March	Marzo
April	Abril
May	Mayo
June	Junio
July	Julio
August	Agosto
September	Septiembre
October	Octubre
November	Noviembre
December	Diciembre
Spring	Primavera
Summer	Verano
Autumn	Otoño
Winter	Invierno
Christmas	Navidad
Easter	Semana Santa
New Year	Año Nuevo
National Holiday	Feriado
One (first)	Uno (primero/a)
Two (second)	Dos (Segundo/a)
Three (third)	Tres (Tercero/a)
Four (fourth)	Cuatro (cuarto/a)
Five (fifth)	Cinco (quinto/a)
Six (sixth)	Seis (sexto/a)
Seven (seventh)	Siete (séptimo/a)
Eight (eighth)	Ocho (octavo/a)
Nine (ninth)	Nueve (noveno/a)
Ten (tenth)	Diez (décimo/a)
Eleven (eleventh)	Once (décimoprimero/a)
Twelve (twelfth)	Doce (décimosegundo/a)
Thirteen (thirteenth)	Trece (décimotercero/a)
Fourteen (fourteenth)	Catorce (décimocuarto/a)
Fifteen (fifteenth)	Quince (décimoquinto/a)
Sixteen (sixteenth)	Dieciseis (décimosexto/a)
Seventeen (seventeenth)	Diecisiete (décimoséptimo/a)

What time is it?	¿Qué hora es?
07h00 Seven o’clock in the morning	Las siete de la mañana
07h30 Seven thirty in the morning	Las siete y media de la mañana
12h00 Midday	Las doce del mediodía
13h00 One o’clock in the afternoon	La una de la tarde
14h40 Two-forty in the afternoon	Las dos y cuarenta de la tarde
19h45 seven-forty-five in the evening	Las siete y cuarenta y cinco de la tarde
00h00 midnight	Las doce de la noche (medianoche)

General Vocabulary

English	Spanish
Cell	Celda
Bed	Cama
Individual cell	Celda individual
Shared cell	Celda compartida
Library	Biblioteca
Showers	Duchas
Toilet	Baño
Visiting rooms	Salas de visita
Garden	Jardín
Reception	Recepción
Director	Director
Assisant Director	Ayudante del director Shopkeeper Encargado de Tienda
Guard/Warden	Guardia/Vigilante

Stationery

English	Spanish
Books	Libros
Pen	Boligrafo
Paper	Papel
Telephone	Telefono
Letter	Carta
Envelope	Sobre
Stamp	Sello

Toiletries

English	Spanish
Soap	Jabon
Shampoo	Shampoo
Toothbrush	Cepillo de dientes
Toothpaste	Pasta de dientes
Deodorant	Desodorante
Tissues	Klinex
Toilet Paper	Papel higienico
Wash	Lavar
Razor	Afeitadora
Shave	Afeitar
Towel	Toalla

Other items

English	Spanish
Shop/Canteen	Tienda/Cantina
Blanket	Manta/Sabana
Radio	Radio
TV	Televisor
Playing cards	Juego de cartas
Ball	Pelota
Battery	Pila/Bateria

Clothing

English	Spanish
Shirt	Camisa
Shorts	Pantalones cortos
Shoes	Zapatos
Socks	Medias
Jumper/pullover	Sweater/Pulover
Jeans	Jeans
Vest	Chaleco
Underwear	Ropa interior
Trousers	Pantalones
T-shirt	Ticher
Trainers	Zapatillas de deporte/tennis
Sandals	Sandalias
Small	Pequeño/a
Medium	Mediano/a
Large	Grande

Proper Nouns

English	Spanish
British Consul	Cónsul británico/a
Britain	Gran Bretaña
British	Británico/a
England	Inglaterra
Scotland	Escocia
Wales	Gales
Northern Ireland	Irlanda del Norte

Family

English	Spanish
Friend	Amigo/a
Family	Familia
Mother	Madre
Father	Padre
Sister	Hermana
Brother	Hermano
Daughter	Hija
Husband	Marido
Wife	Mujer
Partner	Pareja
Son	Hijo
Child	Niño/a
Cousin	Primo/a

Body/health

English	Spanish
I need to see the Doctor	Necesito ver al doctor
I requiremedical assistance for the following reasons…	Necesito ayuda medica por las siguientes razones
It is urgent	Es urgente
I don’t feel very well	No me siento muy bien
I am bleeding	Estoy sangrando
I have a pain in my…	Me duel el/la…
Mild pain	Dolor moderado
Severe pain	Dolor fuerte
I have a cold/flu	Tengo un refriado/gripe
I have a sore throat	Me duel la garganta
I have a fever	Tengo fiebre
I am allergic to…	Soy alergico a…
I am having problems breathing	Tengo problemas al respirar
I have a cold	Tengo un resfrio/gripe
I have an upset stomach	Me duele el estomago
I am constipated	Estoy constipado/a
I have diarrhoea	Tengo diarrea
I have spots	Tengo ronchas
I have a rash	Tengo un sarpullido
I am diabetic	Soy diabético/a
I am epileptic	Tengo epilepsia
I have heart problems	Tengo problemas del corazón
I have ear ache	Me duele el oído
I have a headache	Me duele la cabeza
I have cramps	Tengo calambres
I have problems with my eyes	Tengo problemas en los ojos
I need to have my eyes tested	Necesito que me examinen los ojos
I am pregnant	Estoy embarazada
I have high/low blood pressure	Tengo la presión alta/baja
I have high cholesterol	Tengo el colesterol alto
Have you something for…	¿Tienes algo para…?
Do you have a bandage?	¿Tienes una venda?
Do you have a plaster?	¿Tienes una curita?

Phrases which may be used by the doctor

English	Spanish
Where does it hurt?	Dónde te duele?
Do you have a temperature?	Tienes fiebre?
Do you have any allergies?	Tienes alguna alergia?
Do you suffer from any other illnesses?	Tienes alguna otra enfermedad?
What medication do you take normally?	Tomas algún tipo de medicación?
Are you receiving medical treatment at the moment? Estás recibiendo tratamiento médico en estos momentos?	Estás recibiendo tratamiento médico en estos momentos?
What type?	De qué tipo?
Since when?	Desde cuándo?
Is this the first time you have had this problem?	Es la primera vez que tienes este problema?
Do you have a cold?	Estás resfriado/a?
What colour is the phlegm?	De qué color es la flema?
Are you a drug addict?	Tienes adicción a alguna droga?
How much do you weigh?	Cuánto pesas?
Step onto the scales please?	Súbete a la balanza por favor
Please lie on the bed	Acuéstate en la camilla, por favor
Please take off your shirt	Quítate la camisa, por favor
This is a prescription for…	Esta es una receta para…
You must take this medication…	Debes tomar esta medicación
…before you go to bed	… antes de irte a la cama
…three times a day	… tres veces al día
…in the morning and at night	… por la mañana y por la noche

Food/meals

English column 1	Spanish column 1	English column 2	Spanish column 2
Breakfast	Desayuno	Dinner	Cena
To eat	Comer	To drink	Beber
Knife	Cuchillo	Fork	Tenedor
Spoon	Cuchara	Tray	Bandeja
Glass	Vaso	Cup/Mug	Taza
Plate	Plato	Bottle	Botella
Coffee	Cafe	Tea	Te
Water	Agua	Milk	Leche
Powdered milk	Leche en polvo	Soda	Soda
Hot chocolate	Chocolate caliente	Fresh Fruit	Fruta fresca
Apple	Manzana	Orange	Naranja
Banana	Banana	Pear	Pera
Meat	Carne	Lamb	Cordero
Beef	Carne de vaca	Pork	Cerdo
Ham	Jamon	Bacon	Panceta/Beicon
Chicken	Pollo	Fish	Pescado
Tuna	Atun	Cod	Bacalao
Sea food	Mariscos	Vegetables	Vegetales/Verduras
Cabbage	Repollo	Carrot	Zanahoria
Mushroom	Hongo/Champiñón	Spinach	Espinaca
Green beans	Guandules	Peas	Arvejas
Potato	Papa	Peppers	Pimientos/Morrones
Onion	Cebolla	Lettuce	Lechuga
Bread	Pan	Rice	Arroz
Pasta	Pasta	Butter	Mantequilla
Jam/Preserve	Mermelada	Eggs	Huevos
Cheese	Queso	Oil	Aceite
Salt	Sal	Sugar	Azucar
Yoghurt	Yogur	Biscuits	Galletitas
Cereal	Cereal	Chocolate	Chocolate

Health/Body

English	Spanish
I need to see a Doctor	Necesito vera un medico
I require medical assistance for the following reasons…	Necesito ayuda medica por las siguientes razones…
It is urgent	Es urgente
I don’t feel very well	No me siento muy bien
I am bleeding	Estoy sangrando
I have a pain in my…	Me duele el/la
Mild pain	Dolor moderado
Severe pain	Dolor fuerte
I have a cold/flu	Tengo un resfriado/gripe
I have a sore throat	Me duele la garganta
I have a fever	Tengo fiebre
I am allergic to…	Soy alergico a…
I am having problems breathing	Tengo problemas al respirar
I have a cold	Tengo un resfrio/gripe
I have an upset stomach	Me duele el estomago
I am constipated	Estoy constipado/a
I have diarrhoea	Tengo diarrea
I have spots	Tengo ronchas
I have a rash	Tengo un sarpullido
I am diabetic	Soy diabético/a
I am epileptic	Tengo epilepsia
I have heart problems	Tengo problemas del corazón
I have ear ache	Me duele el oído
I have a headache	Me duele la cabeza
I have cramps	Tengo calambres
I have problems with my eyes	Tengo problemas en los ojos
I need to have my eyes tested	Necesito que me examinen los ojos
I am pregnant	Estoy embarazada
I have high/low blood pressure	Tengo la presión alta/baja
I have high cholesterol	Tengo el colesterol alto
Have you something for…	¿Tienes algo para…?
Do you have a bandage?	¿Tienes una venda?
Do you have a plaster?	¿Tienes una curita?

Phrases which may be used by the doctor

English	Spanish
Where does it hurt?	Donde te duele?
Do you have a temperature?	Tienes fiebre?
Do you have any allergies?	Tienes alguna alergia?
Do you suffer from any other illnesses?	Tienes alguna otra enfermedad?
What medication do you take normally?	Tomas algun tipo de medicacion?
Are you receiving medical treatment at the moment?	Estas recibiendo tratamiento medico en estos momentos?
What type?	De que tipo?
Since when?	Desde cuando?
Is this the first time you have had this problem?	Es la primera vez que tienes este problema?
Do you have a cold?	Estas resfriado/a?
What colour is the phlegm?	De que color es la flema?
Are you a drug addict?	Tienes adiccion a alguna droga?
How much do you weigh?	Cuanto pesas?
Step onto the scales please?	Subete a la balanza por favor
Please lie on the bed	Acuestate en la camilla, por favor
Please take off your shirt	Quitate la camisa, por favor
This is a prescription for…	Esta es una receta para…
You must take this medication…	Debes tomar esta medicacion
…before you go to bed	…antes de irte a la cama
…three times a day	…tres veces al dia
…in the morning and at night	…por la mañana y por la noche

Dental Terms

English	Spanish
I need to see a dentist	Necesito ver al dentista
I have a toothache	Me duele una muela/un diente
I have a broken tooth	Se me rompio una muela/un diente
A filling	Un empaste
Tooth decay	Caries
A tooth	Un diente (front), una muela (back)
A wisdom tooth	La muela del juicio

Prescribed drugs/treatment

English	Spanish
Painkiller	Analgesico
Antibiotics	Antibiotico
Analgesics	Analgesico
Aspirin	Aspirina
Lice treatment	Tratamiento para piojos
Inhaler	Inhalador
Tablet/pill	Pastilla/Pildora
Capsule	Capsula
Cream	Crema
Injection	Inyeccion
Vaccine	Vacuna
Bandage	Venda
Sleeping tablet	Pastillas para dormir
Tranquiliser	Tranquilizante
Laxative	Laxante
Antiseptic	Antiseptico

Human body

English	Spanish
The head	La cabeza
The skull	El craneo
Hair	Pelo
Face	Cara
Eye/eyes	Ojo/ojos
Nose	nariz
Mouth	Boca
Lips	Labios
Tongue	Lengua
Ear	Oreja (external) / Oido (internal)
Neck	Cuello
Anus	Ano
Penis	Pene
Testicles	Testiculos
Vagina	Vagina
Leg	Pierna
Knee	Rodilla
Throat	Garganta
Shoulder	Hombro
Chest	Pecho
Breasts (female)	Pechos
Stomach	Estomago
Back	Espalda
Arms	Brazos
Elbow	Codo
Hand	Mano
finger	Dedo
Thumb	Dedo pulgar/gordo
Hip	Cadera
Ankle	Tobillo
Foot	Pie
Heel	Talón
Toe	Dedo del pie
Limb	Extremidad
Muscle	Músculo
Bone	Hueso
Spinal column	Columba vertebral
Rib	Costilla
Skin	Piel
Heart	Corazón
Lungs	Pulmones
Liver	Higado
Kidneys	Riñones
Bladder	Vejiga
Breathing	Respirar
Blood	Sangre

Health problems

English column 1	Spanish column 1	English column 2	Spanish column 2
An illness	Una enfermedad	A wart	Una verruga
A pain	Un dolor	Cough	Tos
An injury/wound	Una herida	Cyst	Quiste
An infection	Una infección	diabetes	Diabetes
Abcess	Abceso	An epileptic fit	Un ataque epiléptico
Angina	Anginas	Fever	Fiebre
Appendicitis	Apendicitis	Fracture	Fractura
Arthritis	Arthitis	A hernia	Una hernia
Asthma	Asma	HIV/AIDS	Virus del SIDA
A bite (insect)	Una picadura	Liver attach	Ataque hepático/del hígado
Bronchitis	Bronquitis	Leukaemia	Leucemia
Cancer	Cancer	Malaria	Malaria
Concussion	Conmoción cerebral	Migraine	Migraña
An insect sting	Una picadura de insecto	Depression	Depresión
Sun stroke	Insolación	Pneumonia	Pulmonía
Tuberculosis	Tuberculosis	Rheumatism	Reumatismo
Typhoid	Fiebre tifoidea	A scar	Una cicatriz
Ulcer	Úlcera	A scratch	Un arañazo
Sprain	Esguince

5.3 Annex

FCDO guidance: Support for British nationals abroad

FCDO guidance: Arrested abroad: advice for British nationals

Find a list of English-speaking lawyers

Find a list of private translators and interpreters

Prisoners Abroad forms