P.R. Laws tit. 1, § 1
The Government of Puerto Rico has the following rights over persons within its limits, to be exercised in the cases and in the manner provided by law:
(1) To punish for crime.
(2) To imprison or confine for the protection of the public peace or health, or of individual life or safety.
(3) To establish custody and restraint of persons suffering from mental alienation, of drunkards, and other persons of unsound mind.
(4) To establish custody and restraint of paupers for the purpose of their maintenance.
(5) To establish custody and restraint of minors unprovided for by parents or natural guardians, for the purposes of their education, reformation and maintenance.
(6) To require services of persons, with or without compensation, in militia duty; in jury duty; as witnesses; as city, town or village officers; in maintaining the public peace; in enforcing the service of process; in protecting life and property from fire, pestilence, wreck and flood; and in such other cases as are provided by law.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 4.