The Puerto Rico Department of Justice, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the Institute of Forensic Sciences have reinforced their collaboration agreement for referring and handling cases that can be investigated and prosecuted by both state and federal authorities. Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres said the agreement is an important tool to strengthen the justice system’s response to crime, using all available resources to investigate offenses more effectively, protect victims and hold those who threaten community safety accountable.
Interim federal prosecutor Héctor Ramírez Carbó said the deal reinforces the US Attorney’s commitment to improving the quality of life of communities in Puerto Rico through vigorous and impartial enforcement of federal law. The agreement sets criteria for deciding which authorities will take the lead on given cases, covering drug trafficking, carjacking, bank robberies, firearms offenses, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, Medicaid fraud, financial exploitation of elderly adults and fraud involving federal funds.
Police Superintendent Joseph González said it strengthens intelligence sharing and investigative coordination, while Institute of Forensic Sciences executive director María Conte Miller said it boosts coordination so forensic analyses support investigations. The agencies will designate interagency coordinators to channel referrals. The signing continues an agreement first signed in September 2023.