Top of Page
Skip main navigation

Territory of Puerto Rico

Chapter 29, Subchapter I, Section 602—Domestic abuse—A constant pattern of conduct involving physical
force or psychological violence, intimidation or persecution against a person by his/her spouse, former spouse, a person with whom he/she cohabits, or has cohabited, with whom he/she has, or has had a consensual relationship, or a person with whom a son or daughter has been procreated, to cause physical harm to their self, their property, or another’s self, or to cause him/her grave emotional harm.

Chapter 300, Subchapter I, Section 4770—Sexual Assault—Any person who performs sexual penetration, whether vaginal, anal, oral-genital, digital or instrumental under any of the following circumstances shall incur a severe second degree felony:

(a) If the victim has not yet reached the age of sixteen (16) at the time of the event.

(b) If due to mental disability or illness, whether temporary or permanent, the victim is unable to understand the nature of the act at the time of its commission.

(c) If the victim has been compelled into the act by means of physical force, violence, intimidation or the threat of serious and immediate bodily harm.

(d) If the victim’s capability to consent has been annulled or diminished substantially without his/her knowledge or without his/her consent by means of hypnosis, narcotics, depressants or stimulants, or similar means or substances.

(e) When at the time of the commission of the act the victim is not conscious of its nature and this circumstance is known to the person accused.

(f) If the victim submits to the act by means of deception, trickery, simulation or cover up with respect to the identity of the person accused.

(g) If the victim is forced or induced by means of abuse or physical or psychological violence into participating or becoming involved in unwanted sexual relations with third parties.

(h) If the accused person is a relative of the victim, by ascendancy or descendancy, or consanguinity, adoption or affinity, or collateral by consanguinity or adoption up to the third degree.

(i) When the accused person takes advantage of the trust deposited in him/her by the victim because there is a relationship of superiority because the victim is under his/her custody, guardianship, or primary, secondary or special education, medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, or any type of counseling, or because there is a relationship with the victim as the leader of his/her religious belief.

If the conduct typified in subsection (a) of this section is committed by a minor who has not yet reached the age of eighteen (18), the offender shall incur a third degree felony if prosecuted as an adult.

Chapter 251, Section 4013—Stalking—Means a pattern of behavior of vigilance, over a person; unwanted verbal or written communications are sent repeatedly to a specific person; written, verbal or implicit threats are made against a specific person; repeated acts of vandalism are directed to a specific person; repeated harassment through words, gestures or actions intended to intimidate, threaten or pursue the victim or members of his/her family.

Note: There are no definitions for consent or dating violence in Puerto Rico.

Return to top of page