Child Witnesses to Domestic Violence - Puerto Rico

Circumstances That Constitute Witnessing

Citation: Ann. Laws Tit. 8, §§ 444(s); 632

In civil law: Minors will be considered to be victims of abuse if the father, mother, or person responsible for the minor has engaged in acts that constitute domestic violence in the presence of minors, as defined in title 8, § 601, et seq.

Domestic abuse is considered 'aggravated' when either of the following is true:

• It is committed in the presence of minors.
• Child abuse is committed and simultaneously incurred.

Consequences

Citation: Ann. Laws Tit. 8, § 632; Tit. 33, § 4694

Aggravated abuse is classified as a third-degree felony in the lower end of the range. The penalty for a third-degree felony is imprisonment for a fixed term that shall be no less than 3 years and 1 day but no more than 8 years. In addition, the court may order restitution in addition to the term of imprisonment.