Criminal Justice

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 2984: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT-- CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT

Repeals 42-56-38.1 and requires the department of corrections to provide free communication services to inmates and juveniles held in residential placement or detention centers and requires that those facilities provide in-person contact visits.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates free communication and in-person visits for inmates, enhancing rehabilitation and family connections, which supports criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 2982: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- FAMILY COURT

Gives statewide juvenile hearing boards the authority to refer a juvenile offender to a rehabilitative driving course, as part of a disposition of an offense before the board. The order may be enforced by the traffic tribunal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes rehabilitation for juvenile offenders through driving courses, aligning with criminal justice reform goals and reducing recidivism.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enables juvenile rehabilitation through driving courses, enhancing driver education and safety programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Driver Licensing

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 2977: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RESTRICTIVE CONFINEMENT OVERSIGHT ACT

Establishes the restrictive housing oversight committee ("committee") for the purpose of monitoring the use of restrictive housing ("solitary confinement"), as well as disciplinary and administrative confinement at the department of corrections.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes oversight committee for restrictive housing, enhancing accountability and protecting civil rights in corrections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 2983: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS

Permits the expungement of records 5 years after the imposition of sentence for misdemeanors and 10 years after the imposition of sentence for felonies, and if the sentence is greater than 10 years, then, upon successful completion of the sentence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill permits expungement of criminal records after sentence completion, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through criminal justice reform.90% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 3105: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- INDICTMENTS, INFORMATIONS AND COMPLAINTS

Provides that the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault shall be 10 years from the date of the offense, or, in the case of a victim who is under the age of 18, ten years from the victim’s eighteenth birthday, whichever is later.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill extends statute of limitations for sexual assault cases, strengthening victim protections and enabling prosecution of past crimes, which supports criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 2990: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST

This bill expands the legal definition of peace officers in Rhode Island to include certain staff members at the state's training school for youth offenders. Specifically, it designates program workers and shift coordinators employed by the Department of Children, Youth and Families as peace officers while they are performing their duties at the training school. Under this change, these individuals would gain the same arrest powers and authority as other designated peace officers during their work hours, but only when actively engaged in their official duties at the facility. The legislation does not alter the roles or responsibilities of these workers beyond granting them temporary peace officer status during their shift.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands peace officer authority to include training school staff, enhancing law enforcement capabilities within juvenile justice system and potentially improving safety and accountability.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 3110: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

This bill prohibits individuals under 18 from possessing firearms in Rhode Island, with specific exceptions for supervised activities. The law allows minors to carry firearms only when accompanied by a parent, guardian, or supervising adult to approved camps, rifle ranges, or during lawful hunting, ROTC programs, ceremonial parades, competitive shooting, state militia activities, and basic firearms education programs. A "qualified adult" is defined as someone 21 or older who is legally permitted to possess and use the firearm. The legislation creates a general ban on minor firearm possession while outlining narrow, supervised circumstances where possession remains legal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts minor firearm access to enhance public safety and reduce potential criminal incidents, aligning with criminal justice protection goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 4, 2026

SB 3167: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THEFT, EMBEZZLEMENT, FALSE PRETENSES, AND MISAPPROPRIATION

Provides that when two or more individuals associate to accomplish the crime of shoplifting, that they would be deemed to be associated for the particular purpose of shoplifting and be guilty of a felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by treating group shoplifting as a felony, increasing penalties and restricting defendant rights.90% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 2957: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THREATS AND EXTORTION

Adds school superintendents, central office officials, school principals, and all other school employees, to the definition of a “public official” for purposes of the criminal prohibition against making threats to public officials.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands protection against threats to public officials by including school staff, strengthening criminal justice safeguards for educators.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects school employees from threats, enhancing safety for educators and students in K-12 schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 2941: AN ACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- RESTRAINT OF JUVENILES

Limits use of restraints on juveniles in transport and court proceedings to safety or escape risks, requires least restrictive methods, and mandates reporting on when and why restraints were used.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill limits juvenile restraints and requires reporting, promoting civil rights and reducing excessive force in juvenile justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

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