Criminal Justice

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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 2964: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS

Makes persons convicted of petty misdemeanors and convicted of simple possession of controlled substances, eligible to have their records expunged three years after completion of their sentence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands expungement eligibility for petty misdemeanors and drug possession, promoting criminal justice reform and reducing barriers to reintegration.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 2602: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS IN DISTRICT COURTS

SB 2602 amends Section 12-10-12 to expand eligibility for placing misdemeanor criminal complaints "on file" in district courts. It allows defendants previously convicted of a felony or facing a private complaint to qualify for this process, which avoids formal prosecution. Key provisions require defendants to maintain good behavior, pay court fees, and meet restitution conditions; violations may lead to case revival or sanctions. For domestic violence cases, complaints automatically expire after three years without new charges, leading to expungement without a court motion. This directly affects misdemeanor defendants with prior felony records, offering a path to avoid criminal convictions under specific conditions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands diversion for misdemeanor cases by allowing prior felony convicts to avoid prosecution with good behavior, restitution, and fee payment - aligns with reform goals to reduce recidivism.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 2125: AN ACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT

Removes the mandatory certification for an individual 16 years or older who was found delinquent for having committed 2 offenses after the age of 16 which would render the person subject to an indictment if the person was an adult.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves mandatory adult indictment for juvenile offenders (16+ with 2 offenses), promoting rehabilitation-focused family court proceedings over punitive adult system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SB 2145: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY

Establishes the commercial sex buyer’s accountability program which consists of an instructional program on prostitution and human trafficking schemes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes educational program targeting commercial sex buyers to address human trafficking, aligning with criminal justice reform by reducing demand and promoting awareness of trafficking schemes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SB 2281: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION

Makes it a felony for any person required to register as a sex offender to live within three hundred feet (300’) of a school as defined in § 11-37.1-2.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by imposing felony penalties for sex offenders near schools, restricting living options and increasing penalties without reform elements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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