Criminal Justice (Civil Liberties)

HB 7352, the Rhode Island Civil Rights Enforcement Act, creates a legal remedy for individuals whose constitutional rights are violated by state or local government entities (including cities, counties, or state agencies). It allows residents or individuals within Rhode Island to sue the government directly for compensation when rights are deprived under color of law, without needing to first sue individual employees. Key provisions include a $500,000 cap on compensatory damages for most claims (adjustable annually for inflation), no punitive damages against the state, and the attorney general’s authority to enforce the law. The law applies immediately upon passage, with claims needing to be filed within three years of the violation.