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Lawmakers press to free inmates found not criminally responsible; House advances bill to alter criminal procedure timeline
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Summary
Representatives urged action on incarcerated people with severe mental illness who remain in custody beyond statutory timelines. The House reconsidered and later approved a measure tied to expedited release for certain nonprocessable defendants (Senate Project 655).
Representative Denis Márquez LeBrón took a floor turn to press legislators to advance a measure addressing incarcerated persons with severe mental illness who have not been found criminally responsible and who remain confined beyond statutory timelines.
Why this matters: Speakers described people with mental illness confined in correctional facilities for extended periods without adjudication or adequate mental-health treatment and urged legal changes to prevent prolonged detention. The House recorded a vote approving the identified measure later in the session.
Key facts
- Substance of the proposal: The bill discussed (Senate Project 655) proposes amendments to criminal procedure (referred to on the floor as an amendment to Rule 240 of criminal procedure) to require a faster release or reconsideration for persons found nonprocessable or otherwise not competent to proceed after set periods of confinement.
- Floor debate: Denis Márquez described a group of people with severe mental conditions who, after arrest and criminal processing, were determined not to understand the proceedings or to be not criminally responsible; he argued many remain in prison beyond the six-month habeas corpus interval and lack access to correct medical or judicial procedures.
- Action taken: The House considered reconsideration of Proyecto del Senado 655 and the floor record shows the measure was carried to floor consideration by affirmative requests from several representatives. Final roll-call results recorded for the calendar include Proyecto de la Cámara 655 (separate entry) with a recorded tally of 49 yes and 3 no; the log indicates project 655 in the final vote block obtained approval (49–3). The transcript marks the Senate-originated bill as “approved” later in the session.
Discussion vs. decision
- Discussion: Floor remarks documented the claim that some defendants with mental health conditions are detained for extended periods in correctional facilities without process or treatment; speakers urged the measure as an act of social justice.
- Decision: The transcript’s roll-call summary lists project 655 with a recorded vote of 49 yes and 3 no; the measure was approved per the formal roll call recorded later in the afternoon.
Quotes
"En Puerto Rico existen un grupo de pacientes con enfermedades mentales ... que ... en vez de intervenir con ellos un equipo de profesionales de la salud en múltiples ocasiones interviene la policía ... y ... existen hoy en día personas no procesables ... que están en las cárceles de Puerto Rico," — Representative Denis Márquez LeBrón (floor remarks, 2025-06-17).
Ending
The House recorded approval of the measure tied to expedited review/release for certain nonprocessable defendants; implementing changes will require the courts and corrections officials to follow the amended procedural rules and any required administrative coordination.
