Puerto Rico creates registry of domestic violence offenders

Original Article: National Post  |  July 3, 2018  |  https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/puerto-rico-creates-registry-of-domestic-violence-offenders

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico has for the first time created a public registry that lists everyone convicted of domestic violence in the U.S. territory.

Gov. Ricardo Rossello said Tuesday that the registry contains data including names and pictures of those found guilty. He said the registry aims to protect and inform people and reduce the number of domestic violence cases.

Officials said those convicted will remain in the registry for seven years as soon as they start serving their sentence. The registry is listed on the website of the island’s Justice Department.

More than 8,400 cases of domestic violence were reported last year, compared with more than 7,700 cases reported in 2016 on the island of 3.3 million people.