All persons shall be required to immediately report cases of actual or suspected child abuse, institutional abuse, neglect, and/or institutional neglect, or if a child is at risk of being a victim thereof.\nAny person who, in the performance of his/her professional responsibilities or employment, has knowledge of or watches any film, photograph, videotape, negative, or slide that depicts a minor involved in a sexual activity shall report that fact immediately to the Department through its Abuse Hotline, to the Puerto Rico Police Department, or to the local office of the Department. Any film, picture, videotape, negative, or slide that depicts a minor involved or participating in a sexual act shall be surrendered to the nearest station of the Puerto Rico Police.\nThe information furnished by virtue of this section, as well as the identity of the person who furnishes the same, shall be kept strictly confidential, except in cases of unsubstantiated reports in which false information has been knowingly provided.\nInformation provided in good faith by any person, official, or institution required to furnish information regarding child abuse, institutional abuse, neglect, and/or on has been knowingly provided.\nInformation provided in good faith by any person, official, or institution required to furnish information regarding child abuse, institutional abuse, neglect, and/or institutional neglect, as provided in this chapter, may not be used against him/her/it in any civil or criminal proceedings that may be initiated as a result of said action. The information reported by school or hospital employees and law enforcement officers who are required to allow the Department to intervene pursuant to the provisions of §§ 1114 of this title may not be used against them, either.\nHistory —Dec. 16, 2011, No. 246, § 21, eff. 90 days after Dec. 16, 2011.
Puerto Rico Legal Code