AN ACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT (Prohibits a peace officer, as defined in § 12-7-21, from employing threats, physical harm, deprivation, deception, coercion, or psychologically manipulative interrogation tactics during the custodial interrogation of a juvenile.)

S2730

2026 -- S 2730
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LC005833
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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 DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN
FAMILY COURT

Introduced By:
Senators Bissaillon, Acosta, and Mack

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 14-1 of the General Laws entitled "Proceedings in Family Court" is
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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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14-1-30.3. Use of statements made in custodial interrogation.

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(a) A peace officer, as defined in § 12-7-21, including a school resource officer (SRO), as
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defined in § 16-7.2-6(i), shall not employ threats, physical harm, deprivation, deception, coercion,
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or psychologically manipulative interrogation tactics during the custodial interrogation of a
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juvenile.
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(b) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
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(1) "Coercion" means, but is not limited to, the disclosure of facts pertaining to a crime or
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crimes that were not previously articulated by the person interrogated.
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(2) "Deception" means, but is not limited to, the knowing communication of false facts
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about evidence, misrepresenting the accuracy of the facts or false statements regarding leniency.
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(3) "Deprivation" means the withholding of physical or mental needs, including, but not
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limited to, food, drink, sleep, use of the restroom, or prescribed medications from the person being
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interrogated.
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(4) "Psychologically manipulative interrogation tactics" means, but is not limited, to the
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following:
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(i) Maximization and minimization and other interrogation techniques that rely on a

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presumption of guilt or deceit;
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(A) Maximization includes techniques to scare or intimidate the person by repetitively
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asserting the person is guilty despite their denials, or exaggerating the magnitude of the charges or
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the strength of the evidence, including suggesting the existence of evidence that does not exist;
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(B) Minimization involves minimizing the moral seriousness of the offense, a technique
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that falsely communicates that the conduct is justified, excusable, or accidental:
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(ii) Making direct or indirect promises of leniency, such as indicating the person will be
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released from custody if the person cooperates;
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(iii) Employing the "false" or "forced" choice strategy, where the person is encouraged to
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select one of two (2) options, both incriminatory, but one is characterized as morally or legally
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justified or excusable; and
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(iv) Employing undue pressure that impairs the person's physical or mental condition to
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the extent of undermining the ability to decide whether or not to make a statement;
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(5) "Threats" means, but is not limited to, using or threatening the arrest or incrimination
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of another person, or using or threatening the use of enhanced penalties against the person being
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interrogated or against another person.
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(c) A statement obtained through or utilizing any of the tactics referenced in subsections
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(a) and (b) of this section shall not form the basis of any further investigative activities. Any
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evidence that is obtained by or flows from the statements of the juvenile shall be considered tainted
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and shall be presumed inadmissible as evidence against the juvenile making the statement in any
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criminal proceeding or a juvenile court proceeding for an act that if committed by an adult would
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be a misdemeanor or a felony offense as those terms are defined in § 11-1-2.
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(d) The presumption of inadmissibility of a statement of a juvenile as outlined in subsection
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(c) of this section, may be overcome if proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the confession or
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incriminating statements were given free from any of the tactics described in subsections (a) and
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(b) of this section, based on the totality of the circumstances. The burden of going forward with the
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evidence and the burden of proving that a statement was given voluntarily and free from any of the
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tactics prohibited by this section shall be on the state. Objection to the failure of the state to call
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all or any material witnesses on the issue of whether the confession or statements were voluntary
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shall be made in the trial court.
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(e) Nothing in this section shall abrogate the state's burden to prove a statement of a
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juvenile was given voluntarily and free from any of the tactics referenced in subsections (a) and (b)
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of this section, prior to introducing those statements or confession into evidence.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN
FAMILY COURT
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This act would prohibit a peace officer, as defined in § 12-7-21, including a school resource
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officer (SRO), as defined in § 16-7.2-6(i), from employing threats, physical harm, deprivation,
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deception, coercion, or psychologically manipulative interrogation tactics during the custodial
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interrogation of a juvenile.
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This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
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LC005833
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