Criminal Justice (Policing)

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 8116: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE BODY CAMERAS FOR CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ACT

Requires correctional staff to wear and activate body cameras, set rules for recording and access, create an independent oversight board, mandate training and reporting, and establish a grant funded pilot program.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires body cameras for correctional staff and independent oversight, enhancing accountability in correctional facilities per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 8115: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT

Requires the corrections director to adopt body camera policies by January 1, 2027, after stakeholder consultation, setting standards for activation, recording, access, retention, notice, and training,

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates body camera policies for corrections accountability, directly aligning with police oversight and transparency reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 2481: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- TRESPASS AND VANDALISM

Defines squatter as a person occupying a dwelling unit who is not authorized by the property owner, landlord or tenant to occupy the unit and provides remedies for property owner including police assistance to remove a squatter.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of squatting as trespass, enabling police removal, aligning with 'expands criminalization' indicator80% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 2599: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- RAILROAD, STEAMBOAT, AND BRIDGE POLICE

Provides any police report involving a railroad fatality and all communications between railroad employees not be made public. Additionally, it makes a violation of this section a misdemeanor.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts public access to railroad fatality reports and employee communications, limiting transparency in law enforcement investigations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 22, 2026

SB 2733: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST

SB 2733 prohibits individuals in state prison or jail custody from using force or weapons to resist lawful requests or directives from correctional staff. It directly affects incarcerated people by making such resistance a violation of the law. The bill establishes a clear rule that limits the use of force by people in correctional facilities during routine operations, such as transfers or medical requests. This policy change aims to enhance safety for staff and other inmates by clarifying expectations during lawful interactions. The bill was introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill clarifies inmate conduct to enhance staff/inmate safety during facility operations, directly strengthening correctional facility security protocols within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 2479: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS' DUE PROCESS, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT -- ICE OUT ACT

Prohibits law enforcement agencies from hiring individuals who were hired as a sworn officer of the US Immigration and Customs enforcement Agency on or after January 20, 2025, and applies prospectively to an individual hired on or after October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits hiring ICE officers to prevent immigration enforcement overreach in local law enforcement, promoting civil rights and accountability as per bill's title and intent.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits hiring ICE officers for state law enforcement, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 8140: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LIMITATIONS ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION

Bars state and local police from joining federal immigration enforcement programs, limits holding people on detainer without judicial warrants, and requires tracking and reporting of requests.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBars police from federal immigration cooperation, limits detainers without warrants, enhances oversight aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly bars state/local police from federal immigration enforcement cooperation and limits detainers without warrants, directly limiting enforcement cooperation as per support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 7802: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELIEF OF INJURED AND DECEASED FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS

Adds probation officer and parole officer to the list of public safety employees that are entitled to their full salary if they are injured and become disabled as a result of performance of their job duties.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state budget for public safety salaries, increasing government spending on essential personnel through mandatory full salary coverage for injured officers.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds probation/parole officers to public safety employee salary protection, supporting law enforcement personnel welfare within criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands full salary protection to probation/parole officers injured on duty, strengthening income security for public safety workers under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Probation & Parole Tags Public Safety

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died · Rhode Island · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 7193: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- POLICE OFFICERS - COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING

Requires mandatory training standards for police officers and trainees, in identifying, responding, and handling all incidents involving any person with a developmental disability.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates police training for disability incidents, enhancing accountability and civil rights protection in law enforcement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2398: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE

SB 2398 upgrades penalties for filing false police reports about serious crimes. It makes it a felony to falsely report a crime that carries a 5- to 20-year prison sentence (with 1-5 years in prison for conviction) or a 20+ year sentence (with 5-20 years in prison). The bill directly affects individuals who knowingly submit false reports about violent or severe offenses, such as aggravated assault or homicide. It replaces the current misdemeanor penalty with stricter felony charges based on the severity of the underlying crime falsely reported.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for false reporting of serious crimes, expanding criminalization and imposing harsher sentences, aligning with OPPOSE indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing Violent Crime

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