Prisoners Rights

Every person, no matter who they are or where they are held, deserves to be treated with dignity. In Puerto Rico, the ACLU works to end inhumane prison conditions, challenge abuse and neglect, and ensure that the rights of incarcerated people are upheld under the Constitution and international human rights law.

Prisoners Rights

What you need to know

7,466

Average daily correctional population in Puerto Rico in October 2025.

68

Deaths were reported in Puerto Rico’s adult correctional institutions during fiscal year 2023–2024.

Partially Compliant

As of December 2025, Puerto Rico Police remained only partially compliant with the requirement that stops, searches, arrests, and detentions be conducted consistent with constitutional rights.

Stand for Dignity Behind Bars

We’re fighting to end overcrowding, improve healthcare access, and expose abuses inside Puerto Rico’s prisons. You can help by amplifying our advocacy, supporting litigation for reform, or donating to sustain this work. Together, we can demand accountability and humane treatment for every person behind bars.

Key Issues

Across Puerto Rico’s correctional system, decades of neglect have created conditions that violate both constitutional protections and basic human rights. From severe overcrowding and inadequate healthcare to barriers in legal access and a lack of oversight, these issues expose a system in urgent need of reform and accountability.

Overcrowding and Health: Chronic overcrowding and limited medical services endanger lives every day.

Legal Access: Incarcerated people often face barriers to accessing legal counsel and justice.

Accountability: Ongoing investigations and lawsuits expose systemic failures in oversight and governance.

Prisoners Rights

The Latest

Press Release
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House Bill 406 Seeks to Create the "Puerto Rico Police Act"

Issue Areas: Criminal Law Reform, Prisoners Rights, Women's Rights, Racial Justice
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Legal

Since its founding, the ACLU of Puerto Rico has been at the forefront of landmark legal battles defending civil rights and liberties across the archipelago. Our legal team challenges systemic injustice through strategic litigation that protects free expression, due process, equality, and government accountability. From fighting police brutality and defending the rights of incarcerated people to advancing reproductive freedom and immigrants’ rights, we work to ensure that justice in Puerto Rico is accessible, equitable, and enduring.
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Free or low-cost legal resources in Puerto Rico

Do you need legal help in Puerto Rico? Explore these free or low-cost legal resources that can assist you.
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Recursos legales gratuitos o de bajo costo en Puerto Rico

¿Necesita ayuda legal en Puerto Rico? Explore estos recursos legales gratuitos o de bajo costo que pueden ayudarlo.
Legislation
Jul 16, 2025

Senate Bill 61

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil and human rights, recommended amendments to Senate Bill 61, which proposed changes to expand the hiring of incarcerated people, due to the need for oversight to ensure safeguards against exploitation and fair working conditions.
Status: Firmado por el/la gobernador/a
Legislation
Feb 26, 2026

House Bill 166

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil and human rights, opposes House Bill 166 because it institutionalizes discrimination against transgender people, especially transgender women. Rather than protecting anyone, this bill has the effect of punishing, excluding, and stripping people of rights.
Status: Activo