Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 14 de 8 de agosto de 1974 para aumentar la recompensa por información que conduzca a la captura de fugitivos o evadidos de instituciones penales, y para establecer una recompensa por información que lleve a la convicción de individuos acusados de homicidio voluntario o asesinato. El monto máximo de la recompensa se incrementa a cien mil (100,000) dólares en ambos casos.
| (S. B. 2240) | |
|---|---|
| (No. 54) |
(Approved January 13, 2004)
To amend Sections 1 and 2 of Act No. 14 of August 8, 1974, to increase the amount of the reward to the person or persons whose information leads to the capture of an individual accused of convicted or violating the laws of the land and who has escaped from a penal institution or been declared a fugitive of justice up to one hundred thousand $(100,000)$ dollars; and to establish a reward of one hundred thousand $(100,000)$ dollars to the person or persons whose information leads to the conviction of an individual accused of voluntary homicide or murder.
Crimes against a person, especially homicides and murders, have risen dramatically in the last years. This increase is largely due to the impunity with which delinquents commit their barbaric crimes. According to Puerto Rico Police statistics, less than 30 percent of crimes are solved. Likewise, convictions are achieved in only 7 percent of the crimes reported. Therefore, it is imperative that we once again achieve that criminals have the certainty that, if they commit a crime, they shall be persecuted, indicted, and shall pay for it.
One of the most effective tools to fight delinquency is the participation of the citizenry. However, in recent years, said participation has decreased, largely because of the fear of reprisals. In view of this situation, it is necessary to find new ways to involve the people in the police investigation process. Offering monetary rewards for information that leads to the conviction of a person that has committed homicide or murder is an effective
means to motivate private persons to cooperate with the Police. In the measure that the participation of citizens increases, a greater number of crimes shall be solved and delinquents shall have less motivation to commit delinquent acts.
On the other hand, we understand that it is necessary to increase rewards for information that leads to the capture of an individual accused or convicted of violations of the penal laws of the land and has escaped from a penal institution or has been declared a fugitive. Said reward must respond to the current Puerto Rican situation, thus becoming a true motivation for the citizens.
This Legislature shall spare no efforts to give the Police the necessary tools to prevent and to fight against crime. We understand that this Act could become an effective incentive towards this goal.
Section 1.- Sections 1 and 2 of Act No. 14 of August 8, 1974, are hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 1.- The Police Superintendent is hereby authorized to pay from the funds appropriated to the operating budget of the Puerto Rico Police up to the sum of one hundred thousand $(100,000)$ dollars as a reward to the person or persons whose information leads to the capture of an individual accused or convicted of violating the penal statutes of the land or has escaped from our penal institutions or been declared a fugitive from justice and the corresponding warrant has been issued by the Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico, or to the person who provided information that leads to the conviction of an individual accused of voluntary homicide or murder.
Section 2.- The Superintendent shall not have an amount greater than one hundred thousand $(100,000)$ dollars to pay the reward to the person or
persons who furnished information to the police leading to the arrest or capture at the same time of the same person who has been declared a fugitive, who has escaped from our penal institutions, or who has been convicted of voluntary homicide or murder."
Section 3.- This Act shall take effect July 1, 2003.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 54 (S.B. 2240) of the $6^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Sections 1 and 2 of Act No. 14 of August 8, 1974, to increase the amount of the reward to the person or persons whose information leads to the capture of an individual accused of convicted or violating the laws of the land and who has escaped from a penal institution or been declared a fugitive of justice up to one hundred thousand $(100,000)$ dollars; and to establish a reward of one hundred thousand $(100,000)$ dollars to the person or persons whose information leads to the conviction of an individual accused of voluntary homicide or murder, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $2^{ ext {nd }}$ of May of 2005.
Luis E. Fusté-Lacourt Director
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