Section 4 Equal Protection and Non-Discrimination

Compliance Over Time Monitorable Paragraphs from the Section: Equal Protection and Non-Discrimination

Number of Section's Paragraphs by Compliance Rating per Report Total of 21 paragraphs in this section: CMR - Report of the Federal Monitor

This chart, titled "Compliance Over Time – Monitorable Paragraphs from the Section Equal Protection and Non-Discrimination", visualizes the number of paragraphs (out of a total of 21) assigned each compliance rating using recent Federal Monitor Reports (CMRs) as data sources. The horizontal stacked bars represent different compliance categories for each period. The x-axis of the chart represents the number of paragraphs (0–21), and the y-axis lists the reports. All bars are stacked to show the cumulative number of paragraphs rated by compliance level for each report.

The compliance levels on the pie charts are represented by the following colors:

  • Fully Compliant – Dark Blue
  • Substantially Compliant – Medium Blue
  • Partially Compliant – Light Blue
  • Deferred – Gray
  • Not Assessed – Light Gray
  • Not Compliant – Periwinkle

Details for each reporting period:

  • CMR 8 - Eighth Report of the Federal Monitor, June 2023, covering the period from October 2022 through March 2023
    Fully Compliant: 0 paragraphs
    Substantially Compliant: 0 paragraphs
    Partially Compliant: 6 paragraphs (29%)
    Deferred: 0 paragraphs
    Not Assessed: 11 paragraphs (52%)
    Not Compliant: 4 paragraphs (19%)
  • CMR 9 - Ninth Report of the Federal Monitor, December 2023, covering the period from April 2023 through September 2023
    Fully Compliant: 0 paragraphs
    Substantially Compliant: 4 paragraphs (19%)
    Partially Compliant: 10 paragraphs (48%)
    Deferred: 0 paragraphs
    Not Assessed: 0 paragraphs
    Not Compliant: 7 paragraphs (33%)
  • CMR 10 - Tenth Report of the Federal Monitor, June 2024, covering the period from October 2023 through March 2024
    Fully Compliant: 0 paragraphs
    Substantially Compliant: 1 paragraph (5%)
    Partially Compliant: 6 paragraphs (29%)
    Deferred: 0 paragraphs
    Not Assessed: 11 paragraphs (52%)
    Not Compliant: 3 paragraphs (14%)
  • CMR 11 - Eleventh Report of the Federal Monitor, December 2024, covering the period from April 2024 through September 2024
    Fully Compliant: 1 paragraph (5%)
    Substantially Compliant: 1 paragraph (5%)
    Partially Compliant: 15 paragraphs (71%)
    Deferred: 0 paragraphs
    Not Assessed: 0 paragraphs
    Not Compliant: 4 paragraphs (19%)
  • CMR 12 - Twelfth Report of the Federal Monitor, June 2025, covering the period from October 2024 through March 2025
    Fully Compliant: 0 paragraphs
    Substantially Compliant: 1 paragraph (5%)
    Partially Compliant: 6 paragraphs (29%)
    Deferred: 0 paragraphs
    Not Assessed: 11 paragraphs (52%)
    Not Compliant: 3 paragraphs (14%)
  • CMR 13 - Thirteenth Report of the Federal Monitor, December 2025, covering the period from April 2025 through September 2025
    Fully Compliant: 2 paragraphs (10%)
    Substantially Compliant: 2 paragraphs (10%)
    Partially Compliant: 13 paragraphs (62%)
    Deferred: 1 paragraph (5%)
    Not Assessed: 0 paragraphs
    Not Compliant: 3 paragraphs (14%)

Excerpt From Executive Summary

Section 4: Equal Protection and Non-Discrimination

PRP and the Parties continue to work collaboratively under the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (SA/DV) Plan, which serves as a central framework for strengthening PRP's investigative practices. This plan has guided progress in several key areas, including enhancing training content, improving the organization and quality of investigative files, promoting victim-centered approaches, and refining internal processes related to investigations, supervision, and resource allocation..

The designated SA/DV workgroup remains actively engaged in implementing the tasks outlined in the Plan, which was developed to provide structure and consistency in handling these sensitive cases. As part of these efforts, PRP has introduced an investigative checklist to promote standardization and quality control in case management.. The workgroup continues to respond to recommendations from prior CMRs, with the overarching goal of improving investigative effectiveness and victim-centered practices in SA and DV cases.

Specialized training remains a central focus of PRP's reform efforts, ensuring personnel are equipped to respond promptly, professionally, and with trauma-informed sensitivity to incidents of gender-based violence. During the 2024 in-service training cycle, PRP achieved a 95% compliance rate in the virtual course on Interactions with Transgender and Transsexual Individuals (VIGPD 5011). However, additional training areas, including hate crime and NIBRS-related modules, are still under development.

PRP recognizes that a sustained commitment to accessible, comprehensive training—supported by adequate staffing, supervision, and resources—is essential for the effective investigation and resolution of these complex and sensitive incidents. Due to time constraints during the 2024 training cycle and transitional leadership changes, PRP requested—and the Monitor's Office approved—a revised schedule for completing 2025 in-service training requirements across these paragraphs and other relevant sections of the Agreement. These trainings are now scheduled for completion by March 31, 2026.. PRP is also encouraged to begin planning for the development and implementation of its 2026 training program.

In summary, the Commonwealth's compliance with the Equal Protection and Non-Discrimination paragraphs reflects some compliance progress to what was previously observed in prior CMRs. In CMR-11 71% (15 paragraphs) of paragraphs assessed were partially compliant and 5% (1 paragraph) of paragraphs assessed were substantially compliant, in comparison to the current reporting period, where 62% of paragraphs (13 paragraphs) were found to be partially compliant and 10% (2 paragraphs) of paragraphs assessed were substantially compliant. One paragraph (5%) moved to fully compliant during this reporting period.

Source

This executive summary provides an overview of the Monitor’s Office’s compliance assessment for this section of the Agreement and is an excerpt from Executive Summary for the Thirteenth Report of the Federal Monitor, December 2025, covering the period from April 2025 through September 2025 (CMR 13). For more information on the compliance assessment, please see the full report.

View All Reports and Executive Summaries

Most Recent Compliance Rating by Paragraph Section 4: Equal Protection and Non-Discrimination

Filter by Compliance Level
Paragraph 80 Text of the Paragraph 80:
PRPD shall ensure that police services are delivered equitably, respectfully, and free of unlawful bias, in a manner that promotes broad community engagement and supports effective crime prevention. In conducting its activities, PRPD shall ensure that members of the public receive equal protection of the law, without bias based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or political ideology or affiliation, and in accordance with the rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 81 Text of the Paragraph 81:
PRPD shall develop policies and procedures that comply with applicable law and comport with generally accepted policing practices on bias-free policing; provide training as described in this Agreement; ensure consistent supervision; and hold officers accountable for complying with applicable law and policy.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 82 Text of the Paragraph 82:
PRPD shall revise its complaint classification policies to effectively capture and track civilian complaints alleging discriminatory policing, even if the complainant does not specifically label the misconduct as such.
Current Rating:
Fully Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 83 Text of the Paragraph 83:
PRPD shall revise all documentation produced in relation to officer and civilian interactions, including documentation related to arrests, traffic stops, investigatory stops and detentions, searches, property seizures, and civilian complaints, so that it permits officers to accurately record the demographic information of all involved persons, including alleged subjects and victims.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 84 Text of the Paragraph 84:
PRPD shall incorporate concrete requirements regarding bias-free policing and equal protection into its hiring, promotion, and performance assessment processes, including giving significant weight to an individual’s documented history of bias-free policing. PRPD will comply with the non-discrimination requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 85 Text of the Paragraph 85:
PRPD shall use the National Incident Based Reporting System (“NIBRS”) to collect and report crime data.
Current Rating:
Not Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 86 Text of the Paragraph 86:
PRPD shall collect accurate and reliable data on hate crimes on an ongoing basis and shall submit the data to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) for analysis and publication in the FBI’s Hate Crimes Statistics report in accordance with FBI submission requirements.
Current Rating:
Not Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 87 Text of the Paragraph 87:
PRPD shall apply and administer all programs, initiatives, and activities without discriminating on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or political ideology or affiliation. PRPD shall develop policies and practices to prohibit selective enforcement or non-enforcement of the law based on these characteristics. These policies and practices shall comply with applicable law and comport with generally accepted policing practice.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 88 Text of the Paragraph 88:
PRPD shall develop policies to provide all individuals within the Commonwealth with police services in a non-discriminatory fashion in order to build and preserve trust among community members and more effectively prevent and solve crime. As part of these efforts, PRPD shall seek the assistance of community advocates in widely disseminating to the public its written policies on immigration-related laws.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 89 Text of the Paragraph 89:
PRPD shall develop a specific policy to guide officers’ interactions with transgender or transsexual individuals that addresses gender identification, gender expression, transportation, processing, housing, and medical treatment.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 90 Text of the Paragraph 90:
PRPD shall provide all PRPD officers with training on biased-free policing at least every two years for the first four years of this Agreement, and annually thereafter. PRPD shall also provide training on biased-free policing as necessary, based on developments in applicable law and PRPD policy. PRPD’s training program shall include the following topics: a) PRPD policies and requirements in this Agreement regarding biased-free policing; b) community perspectives of discriminatory policing; c) constitutional and other legal requirements related to equal protection and unlawful discrimination; d) the protection of civil rights as a central part of the police mission; e) arbitrary classifications and stereotyping based on age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and political ideology or affiliation; f) interacting with diverse populations, including persons who are homeless and economically disadvantaged; g) identification of key decision points where prohibited discrimination can take effect at both the incident and operational planning levels; h) methods, strategies, and techniques to reduce misunderstanding, conflict, and complaints due to perceived bias or discrimination, including community-oriented policing strategies; and i) comprehensive testing that shows complete understanding of rules and regulations.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 91 Text of the Paragraph 91:
PRPD shall assess its operational programs, initiatives, and activities at least every two years to ensure that they are applied or administered in a manner that guarantees equal protection. As part of its assessment, PRPD shall specifically include an assessment of use of force, motor vehicle and pedestrian stops, arrests, and deployment of STUs. PRPD shall also assess its operations and tactics as part of regulatory inspections, assistance to regulatory agencies, and covert vice activities. PRPD shall base its assessment of programs, initiatives, and activities on accurate, complete, and reliable data, including data contained in the EIS, stop and detention data, use of force analyses, and operational planning and after action reports. PRPD shall make this assessment publicly available.
Current Rating:
Deferred

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 92 Text of the Paragraph 92:
Within five business days, PRPD shall prepare and provide to PRDOJ and the Puerto Rico Department of the Family the preliminary investigation report prepared in response to each allegation of abuse and mistreatment originating in secure juvenile correctional facilities. Such allegations include physical and mental abuse, juvenile on juvenile assaults, staff on juvenile abuse, and excessive use of force by staff.
Current Rating:
Not Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 93 Text of the Paragraph 93:
PRPD shall respond to and investigate reports of sexual assault and domestic violence professionally, effectively, and in a manner free of gender-based bias. PRPD shall appropriately classify and investigate reports of sexual assault and domestic violence, collaborate closely with community stakeholders, and apply a victim-centered approach at every stage of its response. PRPD shall develop policies and procedures on responding to sexual assault and domestic violence, including incidents involving PRPD officers, that comply with applicable law and comport with generally accepted policing practices.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 94 Text of the Paragraph 94:
PRPD’s sexual assault policies and procedures shall provide clear and detailed guidelines for each stage of PRPD’s response to a reported sexual assault, including (a) dispatch response; (b) initial officer response; (c) initial and follow-up victim interviews; and (d) on-scene and follow-up investigation.  These protocols shall be based on recognized models and guidelines on forensic examinations, such as, for example, the National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations issued by DOJ’s Office of Violence Against Women.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 95 Text of the Paragraph 95:
PRPD shall re-assess and revise, where needed, its classification protocols for crimes involving sexual assaults. PRPD shall track all reports of felony sexual assault based on the UCR definitions.
Current Rating:
Substantially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 96 Text of the Paragraph 96:
PRPD shall ensure that its Sex Crimes Investigation Unit is accessible through a hotline that is staffed 24-hours a day with trained responders.
Current Rating:
Substantially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 97 Text of the Paragraph 97:
PRPD shall track dispositions of sexual assault investigations, including arrests, whether the prosecutor charged the suspect, and whether a conviction resulted. PRPD shall also track sexual assaults by gender and incidents in which more than one participant is arrested. PRPD shall report this data as part of its annual report.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 98 Text of the Paragraph 98:
PRPD’s domestic violence policies and procedures shall clearly delineate the duties of all PRPD officers and staff and provide clear and detailed guidelines for each stage of PRPD’s response to a report of domestic violence.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 99 Text of the Paragraph 99:
PRPD shall implement measures to respond to reports of domestic violence and sexual assault involving PRPD officers, including disarming officers and assessing their fitness for duty.
Current Rating:
Fully Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

Paragraph 100 Text of the Paragraph 100:
PRPD shall track dispositions of domestic violence investigations, including arrests, whether the prosecutor charged the suspect, and whether a conviction resulted. PRPD shall also track domestic violence arrests by gender and incidents in which more than one participant is arrested. PRPD shall report this data as part of its annual report.
Current Rating:
Partially Compliant

Rating Source:

Assessment as of: CMR 13, Dec 2025

Reporting period: Apr 2025 – Sep 2025

-0-

No paragraphs in this section match the selected compliance level.

Methodology and Compliance Levels

In agreement with the approved methodology, the Monitoring Team uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including site visits, to assess PRPB’s compliance. The Federal Monitor provides an assessment of the compliance status of PRPB’s policies and practices with respect to the paragraphs in the Consent Decree. The compliance rating labels are applied across multiple charts and tables to provide a consistent summary of compliance status and are defined as follows:

Fully Compliant: The PRPB has objectively demonstrated extensive compliance with the cited portion of the Agreement for a period of more than two years.

Substantially Compliant: The PRPB has objectively demonstrated extensive compliance with the cited portion of the Agreement for a period of less than two years.

Partially Compliant: The PRPB has objectively demonstrated a sub-optimal level of compliance with the cited portion of the Agreement.

Deferred: The Monitoring Team has not received sufficient evidence to reach a determination as to compliance status with the cited portion of the Agreement.

Not Assessed: The paragraph was not evaluated during a reporting period. Certain paragraphs are assessed annually following the structured assessment schedule based on the approved methodology.

Not Compliant: The PRPB has not objectively demonstrated compliance with the cited portion of the Agreement.