Animal cruelty: what is a crime and how to report it
Act 154-2008 makes abandonment a 3-year felony and punishes negligence and confinement. What each offense covers and whom to turn to.
August 16, 2026
Safety & Licensing
Regulated licenses and Puerto Rico Police Department procedures.
91 guides
Sex Offender Registry: what it is, who can consult it and what it shows
Act 266-2004 creates the registry of persons convicted of sexual crimes and abuse against minors. What is public, what is not, and the warning the law carries.
August 27, 2026
Protection order for a person with a disability
Since Act 104-2026 there is a dedicated protection order against abuse, neglect or financial exploitation. No prior police complaint is required.
August 23, 2026
Financial exploitation of older adults: the law’s 26 indicators
Act 76-2020 lists twenty-six signs of financial exploitation and clarifies that no police complaint is needed to seek a protection order.
August 23, 2026
Unnecessary noise: what the law bans and until what hour
The law defines unnecessary noise by its effect, not by decibels. A radio must not be heard from the street, and fireworks only 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
August 23, 2026
Hospitals, dialysis and elder housing: generator, cistern and 20 days
Act 88-2018 requires hospitals, dialysis centers, gas stations and elder homes to keep power, water and supplies after a disaster. Fine: $5,000 daily.
August 23, 2026
Guard dogs: the sign, the registry and the follow-up visits
Act 157-1995 requires signs warning the public where guard dogs are used, with a 24-hour phone number, and follow-up visits to the rented dog.
August 23, 2026
How to request a protection order without going to court
Requested online through the Electronic Court. Handled same day until 10:00 pm; outside those hours, go to the nearest police station.
August 26, 2026
Stalking in Puerto Rico: what counts, and how to request a protection order
Ley 284-1999, the two-or-more-occasions pattern, who can request the order — the employer included — and the measures the court can impose.
August 14, 2026
Child abuse in Puerto Rico: where to report it and how to get a protection order
The Child Abuse Hotline at (787) 749-1333, what protects a reporter, and the Ley 57-2023 protection order a teacher, neighbour or relative can request.
August 14, 2026
Domestic violence in Puerto Rico: what Ley 54 covers and what you can ask the court for
The seven forms of violence Ley 54-1989 recognizes, the full list of protection-order remedies, and the escape plan.
August 14, 2026
Charged with a crime in Puerto Rico: the stages of the process and the rights that protect you
What happens after an arrest, the felony and misdemeanour stages, appointed counsel, and the six-month cap on preventive detention.
August 14, 2026
Bail in Puerto Rico: how to post it, how to lower it, and when it comes back
The four ways to post bail, the hearing to ask for a reduction, forfeiture for failing to appear, and why on appeal it stops being a right.
August 14, 2026
Victim and witness rights in Puerto Rico: where to go and what a summons means
The Ley 22-1988 Bill of Rights, the Justice Department office that provides the services, and what a summons means — contempt included if you skip it.
August 14, 2026
When a minor has a case in Puerto Rico: how the Juvenile Court works
Not a criminal process, jurisdiction runs from 13 to 18, school incidents go through the school first, and the three dispositional measures.
August 14, 2026
Protecting an older adult in Puerto Rico: protection order, support and criminal complaint
The three Ley 121-2019 remedies, who can seek them — anyone with an interest — and why breaching the order is a felony.
August 14, 2026
Cyber violence in Puerto Rico: revenge porn, sextortion, grooming, and which law applies
The six forms by name, the laws that reach them, and the steps: document, assess safety, report.
August 26, 2026
Economic abuse in Puerto Rico: when the control is over your money and your job
The concrete list of acts Ley 54-1989 recognizes, the protection order’s financial remedies, and which documents to gather.
August 14, 2026
Sexual violence in Puerto Rico: what to do now, and how the law defines each offence
The immediate steps the Rape Victims Aid Center recommends, and the Penal Code definitions of sexual assault, lewd acts, sexual harassment and incest.
August 14, 2026
Human trafficking in Puerto Rico: how to spot it and where to call
The nine questions for identifying a possible victim, the penalties in Penal Code articles 159 and 160, and the two numbers for reporting.
August 14, 2026
Reporting tree cutting, illegal dumping and environmental damage to the DRNA
Anyone can file a complaint with the DRNA. The form’s incident types, the Rangers Corps phone numbers, and what a ranger can and cannot do.
August 15, 2026
Legal advocacy: who goes to court with you and what they can do
An OPM-certified legal advocate goes with you to hearings, helps you fill the protection order and builds a safety plan with you. They are not a lawyer.
August 15, 2026
CAVV: help for sexual assault survivors, no appointment or referral
24/7 helpline at 787-765-2285. It serves regardless of age, gender or how much time has passed, and family members too. No appointment or referral needed.
August 15, 2026
Weapons license in Puerto Rico: informational guide
Informational guide: which agency administers weapons licenses in Puerto Rico and where to verify current requirements.
August 14, 2026
Duplicate weapons license, certificate or card: form PPR-354
A single form covers duplicates of the weapons license, shooting club license, gunsmith license, L.E.O.S.A. card and instructor certificate.
August 13, 2026
How to file an administrative complaint against a police officer
The five official filing channels, the toll-free SARP number, and why you can file even without the officer’s name or badge number.
August 13, 2026
What the Police do with your protection order: COPOP
What happens after the court issues the order, what COPOP is, and which lines to call if it has not been served.
August 13, 2026
How to request a certified copy of a police report
The form is PPR-139.8, citizens are one of its categories, and the first thing you need is the complaint number.
August 13, 2026
Parks and children’s venues: anyone on the registry may not work, enter or remain
Act 35-2012 bars anyone on the Sex Offender Registry from working in, entering or remaining at children’s entertainment parks and venues, public or private.
August 24, 2026
Recording a call in Puerto Rico: everyone’s consent is required
Act 66-1953 bars recording a call, or letting someone else listen, without the express consent of all parties, even if you are one of them.
August 24, 2026
Phone or internet charges you did not authorize: the offense that covers them
Act 62-1968 punishes charging telecommunications services, including internet, to an account, number or card without the legitimate subscriber’s authorization.
August 24, 2026
They recorded your live performance and are selling it: the law presumes the rights are yours
Act 43-1994 bans copying and selling recordings without the owner’s consent and presumes that, absent a written contract, the artist owns their live performance.
August 24, 2026
Coal ash: what the law prohibits and the $25,000-per-day fine
Act 40-2017 bans disposing of coal ash on roads, lands, landfills and bodies of water, and depositing it beyond 180 days from production.
August 24, 2026
Outside waste in Puerto Rico landfills: the ban that admits no exceptions
Act 424-2000 bans disposing in Puerto Rico landfills of solid waste generated outside the island, and says it admits no exceptions or contrary contracts.
August 24, 2026
SILVER Alert: what to do if a person with Alzheimer’s goes missing
Act 132-2009 requires the Police to issue a SILVER Alert within six hours. Bring the doctor’s letter or the prescribed medications: it is one of the five criteria.
August 24, 2026
Rescuing a child or animal locked in a car without facing charges
Act 36-2016 exempts you from criminal and civil liability for entering a vehicle to save a minor or an animal, if you meet six requirements.
August 24, 2026
AMBER Alert: the four criteria and the 24-hour deadline
Act 70-2008 requires four criteria to issue an AMBER Alert and orders it broadcast within no more than twenty-four hours from the complaint.
August 24, 2026
Mayra Elías Alert: what is needed when someone hits and runs
Act 187-2016 creates a public alert to locate a driver who flees after causing serious harm, and a partial plate number is enough to activate it.
August 25, 2026
Asking for your fingerprints and photographs back after an acquittal
Act 45-1983 lets you ask the court for the return of fingerprints and photographs if you were acquitted or received a full and absolute pardon.
August 25, 2026
Which fireworks are legal in Puerto Rico and when it becomes a felony
Act 83-1963 bans fireworks save for narrow exceptions, and above ten units seized the penalty goes from misdemeanor to felony.
August 25, 2026
Shelter and protection for victims and witnesses: the new 2026 law
Act 62-2026 creates the Shelter, Assistance and Protection Program for Victims and Witnesses, and lets the victim request the referral themselves.
August 25, 2026
I cannot pay the court fine: subsidiary imprisonment
Act 21-2026 sets one day in jail per $50 unpaid, capped at 90 days, 30 days to pay, and a $50 credit per day already served if you pay later.
August 25, 2026
Violence in emergency shelters: what the law requires
Act 139-2025 requires every shelter to keep the Protocol available and post a visible notice, and sets prevention, detection and intervention measures.
August 25, 2026
Civil remedies for animal protection: how to sue
Act 115-2026 lets anyone sue in civil court over animal cruelty, abandonment or abuse, separate from the criminal case.
August 26, 2026
Compensation for crime victims and witnesses in Puerto Rico
Act 183-1998 compensates crime victims up to $6,000 per person or $15,000 per family unit, if you report within 96 hours and claim within a year.
August 26, 2026
Closed-circuit testimony for an elderly crime victim
Act 109-2026 lets an elderly victim of abuse or financial exploitation testify outside the courtroom, via closed-circuit TV, if the judge authorizes it.
August 26, 2026
Protection order for sexual violence victims
Act 148-2015 creates a protection order for victims of sexual assault, lewd acts, sexual harassment and incest, with no prior complaint required.
August 26, 2026
Reconsideration of a denied parole request
Act 50-2026 requires the Parole Board to address a reconsideration request within one year of a denial.
August 26, 2026
Mandatory recording when a minor waives their rights
Starting around late September 2026, Act 51-2026 requires the interrogation be recorded in audio and video for a minor's waiver of rights to be admissible.
August 26, 2026
The municipal liaison for domestic violence victims
Act 138-2026 requires every municipality to designate a liaison for women's affairs and domestic violence victims, trained by the OPM.
August 26, 2026
Sexual harassment in sports: protections and how to report it
Act 133-2024 and its 2026 amendments create a confidential complaint channel at the DRD and hold sports entities liable.
August 26, 2026
Diversion in Act 54 cases: what it is and when the court cannot grant it
The court can suspend the case and order a re-education program. Your opinion as a victim counts, and since 2026 sexual assault is excluded.
September 1, 2026
Suspended sentence: the offences that are left out
The court can suspend imprisonment and place the person on probation, but there is a closed list of offences that do not qualify.
August 27, 2026
BLUE Alert: what it means and what you are being asked to do
It activates when an officer, municipal officer or NIE agent is hurt, killed, threatened or goes missing. The Police decide and the media broadcast.
August 27, 2026
When criminal prosecution expires: the Article 87 terms
The full criminal prescription table under Act 55-2026: 5, 10 and 20 years, and the new 10-year term for fraud of $500,000 or more.
August 27, 2026
Firearm parts: you now need a licence to buy them
Act 123-2026 defines slide, barrel, chamber and firing mechanism as firearm parts, and requires a current licence to acquire them.
August 27, 2026
Illicit enrichment: what it is and why it now carries restitution
Act 155-2026 makes restitution mandatory when the official obtains the benefit. Three years for using the information, eight for profiting.
August 27, 2026
Failing to report child sexual abuse: two years in prison
Act 164-2026 made it a felony to stay silent on knowledge or suspicion of child sexual abuse. Two fixed years, and three for lying.
August 27, 2026
Gambling without a franchise: who commits a crime and what it costs
Act 30-2026 raised the penalties: running an unlicensed hall is $15,000 or a year, and $25,000 or three years on each later conviction.
August 27, 2026
Violating a protection order: mandatory arrest and eight years
Act 183-2026 sets eight years for violating an order, obliges officers to arrest, and adds electronic monitoring if a sentence is suspended.
August 27, 2026
They broke in to damage, not to steal: that is now burglary
Act 45-2026 added the damage offence to Article 194 of the Penal Code. Entering property intending to damage is a felony with a fixed 3-year term.
August 28, 2026
Alerts on digital billboards: a 72-hour minimum on screen
Act 177-2026 requires the Amber, Silver, Mayra Elías, Rosa and Ashanti alerts to stay on digital boards for a minimum of 72 hours.
August 28, 2026
ROSA Plan: what to do when an adult woman goes missing
Act 149-2019 creates the ROSA Plan for missing or kidnapped women 18 or older. The Police and the Women’s Advocate decide together whether it is activated.
August 28, 2026
Ashanti Alert: what to do when an adult goes missing
Act 1-2021 requires the Ashanti Alert to be broadcast within no more than 24 hours of the complaint. Bring a photo, clothing and the time last seen.
August 28, 2026
The 0-0-0 line: the domestic violence emergency line
Act 49-2020 created the 0-0-0 domestic violence line, attached to the Women’s Advocate. What the law says, and why 9-1-1 remains the verified route.
August 28, 2026
The 9-1-1 charge on your bill: how much it can be and what it pays for
Act 20-2017 caps the 9-1-1 charge at $0.50 a month per residential line and $1.00 commercial, and bars charging you for the emergency call.
August 28, 2026
Explosives: the fixed sentences the law now imposes
Act 88-2026 fixes the Explosives Act penalties: fifteen years for illegal use, eight for possession with illegal purpose and six months for illegal possession.
August 29, 2026
Livestock theft: how to prove the animal is yours
Act 517-2004 presumes illegal possession if you move livestock outside the hours or in an unauthorised vehicle, and punishes livestock theft as a felony.
August 29, 2026
How to recover property the police are holding
The Bienes Advenidos Act requires police to hold property at least a year where the public can examine it, and to hand it to whoever proves ownership.
August 30, 2026
Reward for information on a fugitive
Act 14-1974 authorises the Superintendent to pay up to $100,000 for information leading to a fugitive’s capture or a murder or manslaughter conviction.
August 30, 2026
Adopt a police station or fire station
Act 224-2018 lets businesses, communities, organisations, families and individuals adopt a police or fire station by formal agreement of at least three years.
August 30, 2026
Mandatory police course on sexual assault
Act 184-2009 makes a course on the protocol for attending sexual assault victims compulsory for candidates entering the Police Academy.
August 30, 2026
Registry of domestic violence convictions
Act 59-2017 created a public registry at Justice of persons convicted under Act 54, searchable online or by written request to the Police.
August 30, 2026
Selling metal for recycling: what the law requires
Act 41-1982 requires every copper, aluminium and lead transaction logged within 24 hours, bans cash payment and limits hours to 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
August 30, 2026
When the offender is released: who tells you
Act 91-1988 requires notifying the victim in five different situations. Protection, by contrast, must be requested and covers only three of them.
August 31, 2026
Probation: requirements and conditions
The four requirements that must all concur to suspend a sentence, the conditions that only count in writing, and the terms of a revocation.
August 31, 2026
Parole: how it is applied for
The application consents to the Board seeing the whole file. It then weighs eleven criteria, among them the victim’s opinion and where you plan to live.
August 31, 2026
Reporting domestic violence
Act 54 requires the officer to arrest without a warrant and requires the prosecutor or officer to sign the complaint. The victim is not required to.
September 1, 2026
The offences under Act 54
Abuse, aggravated abuse, strangulation, threat, restriction of liberty and sexual assault by a partner, with the fixed terms the Act prints.
September 1, 2026
Bail conditions in Act 54 cases
Six conditions the court must impose, and notice to the victim one hundred and twenty days before the aggressor completes the sentence.
September 1, 2026
Substitute address and confidentiality
Act 54 creates a substitute address register so agencies can answer public records requests without revealing where you live.
September 1, 2026
The protection action plan
Act 54 writes down the escape plan, the emergency bag, the code word with the children and safety at home, at work and online.
September 1, 2026
Alcohol and drug limits for driving
Act 22-2000 sets four thresholds by age and vehicle type, and says having a prescription for the drug is not a defence.
September 1, 2026
Penalties for drink driving
A $500 fine the first time, jail from the second, licence revoked indefinitely on the third and vehicle confiscation for repeat offenders.
September 1, 2026
Drink driving that harms someone
Three years for bodily harm, five for grave bodily harm and a fixed fifteen if it causes death, with the licence suspended from one to seven years.
September 1, 2026
The breath and sobriety tests
Driving in Puerto Rico gives consent to the tests. Refusing leads to arrest and a blood draw with a prior court order.
September 1, 2026
Rehabilitation and licence after a DUI
ASSMCA reports in thirty days, the court sentences in ten, and the licence returns when you pass the course or if the Department is late.
September 1, 2026
Street racing and reckless driving
Five thousand dollars and six months without a licence for racing or wheelies, with the vehicle confiscated. Fifteen years for death plus fleeing.
September 1, 2026
Your senior housing emergency plan: generator, shelter and your say
The project files it every 1 May, must consult you, and the generator covers common areas and lifts.
September 3, 2026
Permits during a state of emergency: the dispensation and its clocks
With an emergency executive order there is a dispensation, an exemption from stamps and fees, and five- and ten-day terms.
September 3, 2026
Finding something lost: what you must hand in and what you get
If the owner is unknown it goes to the municipal authority; after three months unclaimed it is yours, and whoever recovers it pays you a tenth.
September 7, 2026
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