P.R. Laws Ap. tit. 34A, § II, Rule 131.3
In any proceeding under these rules, and specifically, Rules 131.1 and 131.2 of this appendix, the court, on its own initiative or by petition of the Prosecutor, guardian ad litem , or the parents, tutor or guardian of a minor who is a witness in a criminal procedure, may authorize that assistance be given to the minor pursuant to the following:
(1) Support personnel.— The minor shall have the right to be escorted by support personnel, which may be a relative or an acquaintance of the minor, or the professional or technical personnel who has intervened or offered assistance to the minor throughout the different stages of the process. The court may authorize the support personnel to remain next to the minor, including actions such as holding him/her on his/her lap, or holding his/her hands. While the minor is testifying, the support personnel shall not address the minor, nor make any suggestive movement whatsoever, nor communicate with the jury by making gestures nor through any other means.
In the cases of trial by jury, the court shall give special instructions to clarify the function of the support personnel, emphasizing the fact that his/her presence has the purpose of facilitating the testimony of the minor and not of physically protecting him/her from the defendant nor to influence in favor of his/her credibility.
(2) Means to facilitate the rendering of testimony.— The court may authorize the use in court of anatomically correct dolls, mannequins, common toys, drawings or other demonstrative means that it deems pertinent in order to help the minor to give his/her testimony.
By petition of the Prosecutor, of any of the persons listed in subsection (1) of this rule, or on its own initiative, the court shall give priority to the case in which a minor is called to testify, on its calendar as well as on the order of the day, to reduce the time that the minor shall be exposed to the process. If the court has to continue the proceedings on a subsequent date, it shall take into consideration the age of the minor and any adverse effect that such postponement could entail. The court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law, in writing, when it opts to postpone the hearing of the case.
History —Added on Aug. 15, 1998, No. 247, § 3, eff. 30 days after Aug. 15, 1998.