Puerto Rico Launches Cutting-Edge Information System to Combat Terrorism and Crime
San Juan, Puerto Rico - The Puerto Rican government has launched the Critical Justice Information System (PR-CJIS), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at preventing and countering internal and external acts of terrorism, as well as combating local crime.
Enhancing Communication among Law Enforcement Agencies
The PR-CJIS is a joint effort between various law enforcement agencies, including the Puerto Rico Police Department, the Department of Justice, the Institute of Forensic Science, the Courts System, the Correction and Rehabilitation Department, and other national criminal justice components. The system’s primary goal is to share information among agencies and programs, constantly updating the Puerto Rico Criminal History Repository.
Improving Investigation and Prosecution Systems
To strengthen the operational capacity and effectiveness of the criminal investigation and processing system, the PR-CJIS will focus on offenders involved in:
- Violent crimes
- Murders
- Drug dealing
- Child abuse
- Sexual abuse
The Interagency Working Group will establish close coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to make the fight against crime more productive.
Performance Measurements
The system’s performance measurements will be based on:
- Increased closed cases
- A drop in cases archived due to lack of evidence
New investigative mechanisms will be identified to expedite the identification of necessary information during criminal investigations, leading to arrests, processing, and convictions.
Cybercrime Unit Implements New System
The Puerto Rico Cybercrime Unit has implemented a new system that will provide:
- Faster investigations
- Statistics for state and federal reports
- Connection with the Division of Services to Victims and Witnesses, expediting services and providing resources to victims of violent crimes
Training and Evaluation
Efforts to train and evaluate prosecutors will continue, focusing on high levels of performance. However, limited resources due to economic conditions may restrict training in specialized areas.
Police Restructuring
The Puerto Rico Police Department has submitted four action plans to comply with an agreement signed with the Department of Justice to restructure the force. The plans focus on:
- Professionalization
- Equal protection and no discrimination
- Use of force and raids
- Searches
Special Courts and Juvenile Justice System Improvements
Efforts are underway to establish or expand special judicial courts, including:
- Domestic Violence Courts
- Drug Courts
- Illegal Arms Courts in high-incidence regions
Due to budget constraints, the Drug Court Program had to limit services for the current year. However, a new program for minors has been initiated.
The Juvenile Justice System is implementing a new information system to strengthen integration and sharing of information, with two main objectives:
- Strengthening prosecution processes for juvenile delinquency cases
- Providing shelter and support services to victims of domestic violence and child abuse