In short
The Bill of Rights of Crime Victims, created by Ley 22-1988, establishes rights for victims and witnesses of crimes in Puerto Rico. To invoke them you must meet requirements under a different statute, Ley 77-1986, and the place that provides guidance is not the court but the Department of Justice, which runs the Office of Compensation and Services to Crime Victims and Witnesses. That office serves people referred by the court, by prosecutors or by law-enforcement agencies in cases warranting protection, and can provide court accompaniment, transportation coordination, security referrals such as preventive patrols, relocation or shelters, crisis intervention, guidance on the legal process, counselling and psychotherapy referrals. If you were summoned, appearing is not optional: failing to do so without just cause exposes you to a court-ordered arrest for contempt — but if you know you cannot make it, the way out is telling the court in advance.
What is it?
A victim is a natural person against whom any crime under the laws of Puerto Rico or the United States has been committed or attempted. A witness is a person who, in a civil or criminal proceeding, can be summoned to appear before the court and contribute information. A summons is the official document ordering a person to appear to give testimony, produce documents or objects, allow inspection of objects or places, or appear outside the courtroom to be questioned; it explains the purpose of the appearance. It can be served by any private person or law-enforcement officer, including Judiciary marshals, and can be issued by a judge, in some cases the court clerk, or the attorney representing the party requesting it.
Who can do it?
The Bill of Rights covers victims and witnesses of crimes, but to invoke it a person must meet certain requirements under Ley 77-1986, and the Judiciary states that the interested person should go to the Department of Justice for guidance. The Office of Compensation and Services to Crime Victims and Witnesses serves people referred by the court, by prosecutors and by law-enforcement agencies, in cases warranting protection and services as a victim or witness. The services are provided, among others and where circumstances warrant, on that assessment.
Requirements
- To invoke the Bill of Rights you must meet certain requirements under Ley 77-1986, and go to the Department of Justice for guidance.Verified against the official source
- The Office of Compensation and Services to Crime Victims and Witnesses handles cases referred by the court, prosecutors or law-enforcement agencies that warrant protection and services.Verified against the official source
- A summoned person must appear at the place indicated, on the date and time set.Verified against the official source
- If you know you cannot appear, you must notify the court in advance so it can make the required adjustments.Verified against the official source
- Testimony is given under oath or affirmation to tell the truth.Verified against the official source
Documents you need
Cost
Step by step
Step 1: For services, go to the Department of Justice
The Bill of Rights comes from Ley 22-1988, but invoking those rights requires meeting requirements under Ley 77-1986, and the body that gives guidance is the Department of Justice, not the court. That is where the Office of Compensation and Services to Crime Victims and Witnesses sits, serving people referred by the court, prosecutors or law-enforcement agencies in cases warranting protection and services.
Step 2: Ask about the specific services
Through that office the Department of Justice may provide, among others and where circumstances warrant: court accompaniment; coordination of transportation to court; coordination or referrals for security services such as preventive patrols, relocation or shelters; crisis intervention; guidance on the legal process; guidance and counselling; referrals to psychotherapy services; and referrals and coordination for other agencies’ services.
Step 3: If you were summoned, it is not optional
A summoned person must appear at the place indicated, on the date and time set. Otherwise they face a court-ordered arrest for contempt, the offence that punishes non-compliance with a judicial order. If a witness does not appear for some reason or out of ignorance, they must justify to the court why they did not.
Step 4: If you cannot make it, say so beforehand
If a summoned witness knows they will not be able to appear, they must notify the court in advance so it can make the required adjustments. Notifying beforehand is what separates a manageable absence from contempt.
Step 5: Testify under oath, and tell the truth
A summoned witness gives testimony under oath or affirmation to tell the truth. If their statements are shown to be untrue and they knew they were false, they face criminal prosecution for perjury — knowingly giving false testimony.
Step 6: If you are pressured not to testify, report it
The law forbids interfering with witnesses, and certain conduct is criminal: threatening a witness with physical harm to them, their family or their property so they do not testify; committing fraud or deceit to affect a witness’s testimony; and preventing or persuading a witness, or someone who might be one, not to appear or not to testify. If a witness or anyone else knows someone is doing this, they can go to the Police or contact the Department of Justice.
Where to do it
For services and guidance, the Department of Justice, at the Office of Compensation and Services to Crime Victims and Witnesses. For appearing, the place, date and time on the summons. To report witness interference, the Puerto Rico Police or the Department of Justice.
How long it takes
What to do if something goes wrong
If you are a victim of domestic violence, stalking or child abuse, beyond these rights there are protection orders with their own procedures, each with its own guide. If you go to court on a domestic-violence case, the Judiciary publishes specific advice: tell the prosecutor who is helping you and whether the aggressor owns weapons, sit as far away as possible, bring someone with you, and ask that the person be kept in the courtroom until you have left. This guide publishes no witness pay figure: fees and expenses are governed by Ley 338-1947 and the Regulation Setting Fees, Travel Expenses, Per Diems and Lodging for Jurors and Witnesses in Criminal Cases, and the Judiciary clarifies the right to request them depends on available budget and certain circumstances, without giving amounts. PRFácil does not represent anyone in court and gives no legal advice.
Common mistakes
- Going to the court to request victim services: the Department of Justice is what provides and guides.
- Believing being a victim is enough to invoke the Bill of Rights: there are requirements under Ley 77-1986.
- Ignoring a summons: failing to appear without just cause can lead the court to order an arrest for contempt.
- Not giving advance notice when you already know you cannot make it.
- Shading your testimony to help someone: knowingly testifying falsely is perjury.
- Staying quiet about threats meant to keep you from testifying: threatening, deceiving or persuading a witness not to appear are crimes.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I skip a summons?
A summoned person must appear at the place, date and time set. Otherwise they face a court-ordered arrest for contempt, the offence punishing non-compliance with a judicial order. If you did not appear for some reason or out of ignorance, you will have to justify it to the court. And if you know in advance you cannot make it, you must notify the court beforehand.
Who can issue and serve a summons?
It can be issued by a judge and, in some cases, by the court clerk, or by the attorney legally representing the party requesting it. It can be served by any private person or a law-enforcement officer, which includes Judiciary marshals.
Do I get paid to appear as a witness?
There are rules: payment of fees or expenses to summoned witnesses is governed by Ley 338-1947 and the Regulation Setting Fees, Travel Expenses, Per Diems and Lodging for Jurors and Witnesses in Criminal Cases. The Judiciary notes a witness may be entitled to request fees subject to available budget and certain circumstances, and publishes no amounts.
Is pressuring a witness a crime?
Yes. It is a crime to threaten a witness with physical harm to them, their family or their property so they do not testify; to commit fraud or deceit to affect their testimony; and to prevent or persuade a witness, or someone who might be one, not to appear or testify. You can go to the Police or contact the Department of Justice.
Official sources
These are the government pages this guide is based on.
- Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico
Poder Judicial
poderjudicial.pr
- Judiciary — Criminal judicial procedure
Poder Judicial
poderjudicial.pr
Last verified
August 14, 2026
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