Senator proposes investigation protocol for Puerto Rico prisons

Arecibo District Senator Brenda Pérez Soto has introduced Senate Joint Resolution 206 to clarify the investigation procedures for crimes committed within Puerto Rico's correctional institutions. The measure seeks to enforce a mandate from the 2011 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Reorganization Plan that has remained unfulfilled for 15 years.

The resolution requires the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) to develop and implement a joint protocol for intervening in and investigating offenses. Pérez Soto noted that the lack of a clear protocol creates ambiguity regarding responsibility when dealing with serious issues such as controlled substances, weapons, explosives, and organized crime within prisons.

The proposed protocol aims to define coordination mechanisms, jurisdiction, and the specific responsibilities of each agency. According to the Legislative Budget Office (OPAL), the measure should not require additional fiscal impact, as it focuses on complying with existing legal provisions rather than creating new government programs.