Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 7128: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- MAINTENANCE OF ORDER ON CAMPUS

Mandates arming campus police at public higher educational institutions and includes campus police in the definition of "law enforcement officer" for the purposes of the "Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights."

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates arming campus police and includes them in law enforcement protections, strengthening law enforcement within criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 2157: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- LAW ENFORCEMENT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Makes sexual contact or penetration between any law enforcement officer that is on duty and a person that is a detainee, arrestee, in custody or a suspect a felony.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMakes law enforcement sexual misconduct with detainees a felony, enhancing police accountability in criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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died · Rhode Island · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 7433: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SEARCH WARRANTS

HB 7433 requires law enforcement to obtain a person's consent or a valid search warrant before placing audio or video recording devices on their private property. This bill directly affects property owners, tenants, and guests by protecting their privacy from unauthorized surveillance on their premises. The key provision makes any audio or video evidence collected in violation of this rule inadmissible in criminal or civil court proceedings. The bill, currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee, would take effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects privacy rights by requiring warrants for surveillance, making violations inadmissible - enhances police accountability and civil rights in criminal procedure.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProtects data privacy by requiring warrants for surveillance devices, making unauthorized recordings inadmissible in court, aligning with privacy protection indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 2154: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ELECTRONIC INFORMATION AND DATA PRIVACY ACT

Requires law enforcement agencies to obtain search warrants for electronic information, data, location information and other identifying information of subscribers and customers, except in specified circumstances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates search warrants for electronic data, protecting privacy rights and enhancing law enforcement accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires warrants for law enforcement access to electronic data, strengthening privacy protections per bill summary. Directly aligns with support indicators for data privacy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Data Privacy

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in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Jan 23, 2026

SR 2236: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 FOR THE RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION ON PREJUDICE & BIAS

This bill appropriates $100,000 from the state treasury for the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias for fiscal year 2026-2027. The funds will support the Commission’s existing work studying prejudice and bias, providing hate crime training to law enforcement and community groups, receiving hate crime reports, and advising state officials. The Commission, established in 1981, serves all Rhode Islanders and has been impacted by reduced federal and state funding. This resolution directly provides financial support to maintain the Commission’s ongoing operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $100,000 for Commission on Prejudice & Bias, funding essential state program addressing hate crimes and bias training.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds hate crime training for law enforcement to address bias, aligning with criminal justice reform goals like accountability and reducing prejudice in policing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Civil Rights Law Enforcement

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died · Rhode Island · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 7289: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT -- POWERS OF ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL -- CIVIL FORFEITURE PROCEDURE

HB 7289 prohibits law enforcement from seizing property under controlled substances laws without first obtaining a criminal conviction. This directly affects property owners who might otherwise face asset forfeiture before a court finds them guilty of a crime. The bill modifies existing forfeiture procedures by requiring a criminal conviction before civil forfeiture can proceed, with limited exceptions for vehicles used by common carriers. It changes the process so that assets cannot be taken through civil means until after a criminal case concludes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires criminal conviction before asset forfeiture, protecting property owners from civil forfeiture without due process - aligns with criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Law Enforcement

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