Gender Violence Program
Considering the pervasiveness of gender violence in our society and that survivors of such crimes are in conditions of vulnerability, the Judicial Branch created the Gender Violence Program. Specific initiatives of this program include the Domestic Violence Court, the Specialized Services Project for Domestic Violence Cases, and the Gender Violence Court Project.
Although cases of domestic and sexual violence can be heard in any part of the Court of First Instance, these specialized services provide a humane approach in dealing with the legal disputes faced by the involved parties while also being responsive and effective. Some of the Judicial Branch’s collaborators in are the Puerto Rico Police Department, the Department of Justice, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of the Family, the municipalities, the Women’s Advocate Office, non-governmental organization, and organizations that offer victim advocacy services or free legal counsel and representation.
Below you will find general information on the Judicial Branch’s specialized services for cases of domestic and sexual violence.
Domestic Violence Court
The Specialized Domestic Violence Court Project aims to improve the court’s involvement and provide a safe and confidential environment for the benefit of all those involved in a domestic violence situation who seek the assistance of the court under Law No. 54 of 1989, regardless of the sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status.
What are the Domestic Violence Courts?
The Domestic Violence Courts:
- ensure the proper and efficient prosecution of the case
- promote the safety of those affected by a domestic violence situation
- establish close supervision of individuals who engage in domestic violence
- offer support and assistance to parties involved in a domestic violence situation, with specialized court resources and partnerships with governmental entities and organizations that collaborate to provide the necessary services to the parties
What are the benefits of the Domestic Violence Courts?
- Hearing exclusively domestic violence cases.
- Specially trained court resources.
- Separate waiting rooms for each party, and a children’s room for accompanying minors.
- Staff from other organizations available for interventions.
- Referrals to collaborating organizations to provide services to the parties.
- Available closed-circuit system for those who testify in court.
Who are the key components in the Domestic Violence Courts?
- Judge: to evaluate the situation and issue rulings.
- Coordinator: to provide judicial support in the coordination and follow-up of cases to ensure that all the processes are followed and that the necessary services are provided.
- Marshal: to provide security within the court and to offer information on the available services.
- Clerk or Assistant clerk: to prepare and serve protection orders and schedule hearings.
- Victim Advocate: to offer specialized assistance and accompany the person who is applying for a protection order.
- Police Liaison: in charge of channeling summons and serving them, coordinates evictions, disarmaments, collection of belongings, shelter, and transportation, among others.
- Legal Counsel: to offer legal advice and representation.
Where are the Domestic Violence Courts located?
Specialized Services Project for Domestic Violence Cases
The Specialized Services Project for Domestic Violence Cases seeks to bring the necessary elements to judicial regions without a specialized domestic violence court while the official implementation of the Domestic Violence Court is in the works.
What does the Specialized Services Project for Domestic Violence Cases seek?
In the judicial regions with a Specialized Services Project for Domestic Violence Cases:
- staff and judges are trained on specialized topics
- existing spaces are transformed into separate waiting rooms for the parties
- external support resources are coordinated for the party requesting assistance in court
- a specialized calendar is set
Where has the Specialized Services Project for Domestic Violence Cases been implemented?
Aguadilla
Municipal Court, waiting room
(787) 819-5743; extension 2032
Gender Violence Court Project
Domestic violence and sexual violence are serious societal problems in Puerto Rico, which is why the Judicial Branch expanded the Domestic Violence Court Project to include assistance in sexual violence cases. Thus, the Gender Violence Courts Project was created. This specialized court hears applications for protection orders for domestic violence, sexual violence, and/or child sexual abuse. It also hears related criminal cases.
What are the Gender Violence Courts?
The Gender Violence Courts have trained court staff in gender violence issues, as well as specialized calendars and separate service areas for each party to the case. In addition, they serve as liaisons between the affected person and the services they may need, including victim advocacy, legal counsel, and the Puerto Rico Police Department. In cases involving children affected by sexual violence, staff from the Department of the Family are also included to facilitate any process to be carried out in said agency.
The objectives of the Gender Violence Courts include:
- assuring the parties that their case will be prosecuted diligently
- promoting the safety of those affected by situations of domestic violence or sexual violence
- if criminal proceedings have been initiated, establishing close surveillance of the aggressor
facilitate support and assistance services for the parties involved in a situation of domestic violence or sexual violence
What are the benefits of the Gender Violence Courts?
- Hearing exclusively domestic violence and sexual violence cases.
- Specially trained court resources.
- Separate waiting rooms for each party, and a children’s room for accompanying minors.
- Staff from other organizations available for interventions.
- Referrals to collaborating organizations to provide services to the parties.
- Available closed-circuit system for those who testify in court.
Who are the key components in the Gender Violence Courts?
- Judge: to evaluate the situation and issue rulings.
- Coordinator: to provide judicial support in the coordination and follow-up of cases to ensure that all the processes are followed and that the necessary services are provided.
- Marshal: to provide security within the court and to offer information on the available services.
- Clerk or Assistant Clerk: to prepare and serve protection orders and schedule hearings.
- Victim Advocate: to offer specialized assistance and accompany the person who is applying for a protection order.
- Social worker: to coordinate psychosocial services with collaborating organizations based on the needs of the person requesting the protection order.
- Police Liaison: in charge of channeling summons and serving them, coordinates evictions, disarmaments, collection of belongings, shelter, and transportation, among others.
- Legal Counsel: to offer legal advice and representation.
Important
If you or someone you know needs a protection order because you or that person is facing a situation of domestic violence or sexual violence, you can go to any part of Court of First Instance or any one of the specialized courts. The Judicial Branch’s specialized services for domestic violence and sexual violence case are available Monday to Friday, from 1:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. After these hours, you may go to the nearest Investigation Division (Municipal Court) with extended hours of operation. You may also apply for a protection order through the Virtual Municipal Court. If you choose this alternative, you must fill out the proper forms and send them by email to presentaciones@poderjudicial.pr. Judicial Branch staff will then contact you to hear the matter via videoconference. This mechanism is available Monday through Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
If you are facing an emergency, immediately call 9-1-1 or the nearest Police station.
Related links
Gender
Violence
Judicial Branch
Directory
Electronic Request
for Urgent Manners
For more information
For information on the Domestic Violence Program, you may call the Office of Court Administration, Directorate of Judicial Programs, at (787) 641-6600, extensions 5709, 5547, 5704, 5741, and 5743.