Dominican Republic — Legal Help

911 works in Santo Domingo, Santiago, and the main tourist corridors; CESTUR (the tourist police) handles foreigner complaints in tourist zones and has English speakers. Adult sex work itself is not criminalized, but pimping and brothel operations are (Penal Code arts. 334–335), and child exploitation is prosecuted hard under Law 136-03 (2003). Note that the age of consent is 18 — higher than most of the region — and 'she said she was 19' is not a defence; verify ID. If arrested, ask for your embassy and a lawyer immediately, sign nothing in Spanish you do not understand, and treat any roadside 'fine' demand as a shakedown — ask for a written citation at the station.

Embassies provide lawyer lists, detention visits, and family notification but cannot bail you out. Police extortion attempts around nightlife zones are a known pattern; stay calm and get a lawyer on the phone early.