AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST (Expands the definition of peace officers to include juvenile program workers and shift coordinators at the department of youth, children and families.)

S2143

2026 -- S 2143
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LC004012
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST

Introduced By:
Senator Matthew L. LaMountain

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 12-7-21 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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12-7-21. “Peace officer” defined.
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“Peace officer,” as used within this chapter, means the following individuals or members
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of:
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(1) Rhode Island state police;
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(2) Any member of a municipal or local police department;
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(3) Rhode Island airport corporation police;
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(4) Rhode Island park police;
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(5) Rhode Island capitol police;
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(6) Rhode Island conservation officers;
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(7) Rhode Island department of environmental management officers;
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(8) Rhode Island fire marshals;
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(9) Brown University police officers;
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(10) University of Rhode Island campus police officers;
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(11) Rhode Island College campus security;
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(12) Campus security at the Community College of Rhode Island;
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(13) Rhode Island sheriff’s department;
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(14) The investigators of the department of attorney general appointed pursuant to § 42-9-

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8.1;
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(15) Any federal law enforcement officer;
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(16) Correctional investigators, chief inspector and inspectors within the office of
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inspections, and correctional officers of the Rhode Island department of corrections;
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(17) The witness protection coordinator of the department of attorney general;
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(18) The warden, associate wardens, majors, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, correctional
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officers and investigators employed by a project operated by a municipal detention facility
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corporation, including, but not limited to, the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility; provided, such
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parties listed in this subsection (18) herein shall be deemed to be peace officers while in
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performance of their duties for the municipal detention facility only, and shall not be deemed to be
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peace officers at any time when they are not in performance of said duties;
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(19) Retired non-permanent sworn members of any municipal police department shall be
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deemed to be peace officers only while in the performance of their duties for any municipal police
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department, and shall be permitted to carry their firearm while in the performance of their duties
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for the municipal police department, and shall be subject to in-service training requirements of title
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42, chapter 28;
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(20) Auto theft investigators appointed pursuant to § 31-50-1;
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(21) Providence fire department arson investigators; provided, that the arson investigator
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is a graduate of a police-training academy;
and
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(22) Rhode Island School of Design police officers
; and
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(23) Juvenile program workers and shift coordinators of the department of children, youth
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and families
.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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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 expand the definition of peace officers to include juvenile program workers
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and shift coordinators at the department of youth, children and families.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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