AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST (Makes it unlawful for a person in the custody of the department of corrections to use any force or weapon to resist a lawful request or directive.)

H8463

2026 -- H 8463
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LC006330
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST

Introduced By:
Representatives Read, Noret, J. Brien, Chippendale, Casey, Corvese,
O'Brien, Fascia, Santucci, and Cotter

Date Introduced:
April 17, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 12-7-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-7 entitled "Arrest" is
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hereby amended to read as follows:
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12-7-10.
Resisting legal or illegal arrest
Resisting legal or illegal arrest by peace
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officer-Resisting directive of correctional officer.
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(a)
(1)
It shall be unlawful for any person to use force or any weapon in resisting a legal or
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an illegal arrest by a peace officer, if the person has reasonable ground to believe that he or she is
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being arrested and that the arrest is being made by a peace officer.
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(2) It shall be unlawful for any person in custody of the Rhode Island department of
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corrections to use any force or weapon to resist a lawful request or directive by a corrections officer.
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(b) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not
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more than five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both
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fine and imprisonment.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC006330
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST
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This act would make it unlawful for a person in the custody of the department of corrections
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to use any force or weapon to resist a lawful request or directive.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC006330
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