AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT (Allows for the electronic filing of domestic violence/sexual assault reporting forms by law enforcement agencies, enhances the information to be included on the reporting forms, and clarifies that the reporting forms should be submitted monthly.)

S2985

2026 -- S 2985
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LC005275
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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 -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

Introduced By:
Senators Quezada, Pearson, Mack, Euer, and DiMario

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
(Judiciary)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 12-29-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-29 entitled "Domestic
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Violence Prevention Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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12-29-8. Domestic violence reports.
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(a) A law enforcement officer who responds to or investigates a domestic violence incident
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shall complete a domestic violence
report
/sexual assault reporting form
, whether or not an arrest
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occurs.
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(b) For the purpose of establishing accurate data on the extent and severity of domestic
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violence in the state and on the degree of compliance with the requirements of § 12-29-3, the
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domestic violence training and monitoring unit
of the court system

within the administrative office
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of state courts
shall prescribe a form
and process
for
making

submitting
domestic violence
reports

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information to the unit
. The form shall include, but is not limited to, the following information:
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(1) Name of the parties;
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(2) Relationship of the parties;
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(3) Sex of the parties;
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(4) Date of birth of the parties;
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(5) Time and date of the incident;
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(6) Whether children were involved or whether the alleged act of domestic violence was
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committed in the presence of children;
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(7) Type and extent of the alleged abuse;

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(8) Number and types of weapons involved;
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(9) Existence of any prior court order;
and
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(10) Existence of any language barriers;
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(11) Felony enhancement notation; and
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(10)
(12)
Any other data that may be necessary for a complete analysis of all circumstances
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leading to the arrest

of an incident subject to reporting under this section
.
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(c) Each
police

law enforcement
department shall
forward copies of

electronically submit
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the domestic violence/sexual assault reporting forms and
the
reports

corresponding police report
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narratives
to the unit at the end of each month.
For those cases that were still under investigation
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or for which an arrest warrant had been issued, but not yet executed in a given month, the
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responsible law enforcement department shall electronically submit the domestic violence/sexual
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assault reporting forms and the corresponding police report narratives as soon as practicable, but
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not later than the end of the calendar year in which the incident occurred.
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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 -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT
***
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This act would require the electronic filing of domestic violence/sexual assault reporting
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forms by law enforcement agencies, enhance the information to be included on the reporting forms,
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and clarify that the reporting forms should be submitted monthly, or as soon as practicable upon
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receipt of all relevant information regarding an incident subject to reporting.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005275
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