JUSTICE STUDY AND THE INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS REVEALS:

ONE OF FOUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PLAINTIFFS FACES A RISK OF DEATH

Based on the findings of the pilot study of the Risk Assessment used by Department of Justice prosecutors analyzed by the Institute for Statistics

San Juan, Puerto Rico. Wednesday, December 11, 2024 -- The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice presented the preliminary findings of the analysis of the Risk Assessment, a tool recently implemented by prosecutors in the criminal investigation process, to identify the levels of dangerousness of femicide faced by victims of domestic violence in Puerto Rico. The pilot study, which covered 2,021 cases during the first half of 2024, revealed worrying data that highlight the urgency of continuing to strengthen prevention and protection strategies against domestic violence in Puerto Rico.

Among the data, the following stand out:

• The injured parties have an average age of 36.3 years, with the group from 20 to 39 years old being the most represented (62.1% of cases).
• One in four victims faced a level of danger from severe to extreme.
  • Women with severe or extreme danger are almost 13 times more likely to have been attacked or threatened with a weapon, compared to those who are of varying or increasing danger.
  • When evaluating the group of women with severe or extreme dangerousness, it was due to the fact that the partner or former partner was jealous of them and shows it violently and constantly (82.6%). 79.1% fear that their partner or ex-partner is capable of killing them.
  • The municipalities with the highest adjusted rates of victims, aged 15 and over with severe or extreme danger, were Barranquitas, Salinas and Patillas.

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together so that the Government of Puerto Rico uses these findings as a basis for the design and implementation of effective public policies that prioritize the safety of victims of domestic violence.

“These data not only represent a picture of reality, but they are the result of a rigorous statistical analysis process led by the Institute of Statistics, in which the risk assessment sheets were validated, integrated into a centralized database and the necessary analyses were carried out to identify the most critical risk factors. This work is a key tool to guide government agencies' efforts toward more effective and targeted interventions,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier Flores, executive director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics. For his part, the Secretary of Justice, Domingo Emanuelli Hernández, pointed out that “these data are not just numbers, they are an urgent call for joint action to reinforce prevention, protection and justice strategies for victims of domestic violence. This preliminary report provides us with a path of action to identify areas that need to be reinforced in the fight to eradicate domestic violence. The analysis of data from the Department of Justice's Risk Assessment will allow the development of public policies and measures in addition to those that have already been implemented to meet the needs of the complainants and prevent femicide. My commitment, as part of the justice system, is to work tirelessly to turn these statistics into tangible solutions that prioritize the safety, dignity and rights of victims. It is extremely important that it be continued, as it is an effective initiative to continue building a future where no woman fears for her life in her own home.”

On the other hand, Dr. Idania R. Rodríguez Ayuso, Deputy Executive Director of the Institute of Statistics, noted that “The analysis of these data allowed us to identify patterns and critical risk factors that highlight the seriousness of domestic violence in Puerto Rico. This process, which included the validation and detailed analysis of risk assessment sheets, is essential for generating reliable information that serves as a basis for designing more effective prevention and protection strategies. These findings call on us to act urgently to prioritize high-risk cases and ensure the safety of victims.”

“The Risk Assessment analysis allows prosecutors to make determinations with greater certainty and can be inserted into prevention efforts. In turn, it helps them to guide victims and channel the aid and services they require, including security measures,” said the chief prosecutor, Jessika Correa González.

“The results of the Department of Justice's pilot Risk Assessment study confirm an alarming reality that we cannot ignore: one in four female complainants faces a level of danger that puts their lives at risk. As a society, we cannot allow fear and violence to continue to mark the lives of so many women. However, this effort cannot fall solely on government institutions. The active collaboration of communities is essential to identify risks, provide support to victims and promote a culture of respect,” said prosecutor Laura Hernández Gutiérrez, director of the Coordination Division of the Specialized Units for Domestic Violence, Sexual Offences and Child Abuse of the Department of Justice.

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice reiterated their call to continue government and community collaboration, as well as to continue strengthening the collection and analysis of regional data to eventually eradicate domestic violence in Puerto Rico. For his part, the Secretary of the Department of Justice reported that the results obtained will allow law and order agencies to strengthen the response in municipalities with high rates of danger, thus allowing for more focused and effective interventions. In addition, he explained that it will be essential to continue the specialized training that the Department of Justice implemented to train professionals who work directly with victims of domestic violence, ensuring that they have the necessary tools to identify and manage risky situations appropriately. Finally, the leaders of both agencies said that these findings will make it possible to design better prevention and education campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the risk factors associated with the risk of intimate femicide.

For more information you can visit the website www.estadisticas.pr.gov or the social media accounts of Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico).

To access the study: Risk Assessment Sheet Findings Report.

About the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous governmental entity responsible for coordinating the Government's statistical production service to ensure that the data collection and statistics systems, on which public policies are based, are complete, reliable, and have quick and universal access.

About the Puerto Rico Department of Justice

The Department of Justice has the mission of ensuring faithful compliance with the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and aspiring to the highest principles of equality and human dignity. It also represents the people of Puerto Rico in civil and criminal cases, and provides certainty to the legal trafficking of real estate on the island. It performs these functions with effectiveness, integrity, a sense of justice and the strongest commitment to public service.

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