SORNA 2022 TO ENHANCE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY UNITY

Puerto Rico’s Department of Justice through the Criminal Justice Information Systems (PR-CJIS) is working continuously to improve the sex offender program by developing, enhancing, and maintaining all the components of the system, in order to implement SORNA substantially throughout the jurisdiction. PR-CJIS, as the Office in charge of the administration of the Sex Offenders Registry, has been working proactively throughout the past 12 years to fulfill the requirements and dispositions of SORNA, by developing innovative projects to strengthen the sex offender registrations in Puerto Rico, to improve the case management process, and to provide to all State and Federal law enforcement agencies the access to the information and services required to increase prosecution of this cases, and in ultimate instance promote the national security. 

PR-CJIS administers various public registries, including the Registry of Persons Convicted of Sexual Offenses and Child Abuse, known better as the Sex Offender’s Registry. The main objective of Puerto Rico’s Sex Offenders Registry is to maintain informed all individuals or entities, upon request, about the whereabouts of persons who have been convicted of sexual crimes or abuse against minors, especially when the offenders reincorporate to the free community. However, beyond providing information regarding the location of sexual offenders, it is vital to maintain the structure of the related services through legal advice, which is required for the proper management of these cases, both for law-and-order agencies and officials, but also to enforce offenders’ compliance with the applicable State and Federal regulations.

On June 30, 2022, it was created as an official Unit attached to the Department of Justice and endorsed by the Attorney General through an administrative order, which empowers it as the authorized Unit in charge of the management and administration of the New Sex Offenders Registry and the Public Portal. Said Unit will guarantee that the Sex Offenders Registry is recognized as the main information resource and link within the community about people convicted of sexual crimes, in order to protect and guarantee the safety of the most vulnerable sectors.
 

In order to continue reinforcing our case management system, and substantially comply with SORNA, PR- DOJ and PR-CJIS, with SORNA 2022 Reallocation funds intends to enhance the services provided by the Sex Offenders Registry Unit (SORU) to continue structuring, strengthening, and overseeing the process of apprehension, registration, and monitoring of sexual offenders in the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico.