AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- VETERANS IDENTIFICATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (Provide services for veterans in the criminal justice system ensuring disclosure and connections with federal and state resources.)

S2997

2026 -- S 2997
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LC005518
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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 -- VETERANS IDENTIFICATION IN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Introduced By:
Senators E Morgan, Raptakis, Rogers, Patalano, Dimitri, Felag, Urso,
Thompson, Paolino, and Ciccone

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 12 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL PROCEDURE" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 34
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VETERANS IDENTIFICATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
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12-34-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Veterans Identification
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in the Criminal Justice System Act."
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12-34-2. Definitions.

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As used in this chapter:
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(1) "Accountability courts" means the veterans treatment courts and other specialty courts
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(drug, mental health, or family courts).
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(2) "Community supervision" means probation or parole under Title 13.
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(3) "Diversion programs" means any mechanism applied after charges are filed, including
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accountability courts and prosecutor programs.
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(4) "Identity attributes for individuals" means and includes name, date of birth, Social
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Security Number, and gender.
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(5) "Law enforcement partners" means and includes police departments, sheriff
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departments, courts, jails, and deflection initiatives collaborating with law enforcement.

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(6) "Local deflection initiative" means a community-based coalition assisting individuals
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with substance use disorder, mental health disorder, or co-occurring disorders via connection with
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local behavioral health systems following contact with law enforcement.
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(7) "Status query and response exchange system" or "SQUARES" means a web application
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of the VA providing verified information about veteran status, eligibility for healthcare, and VA
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programs.
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(8) "Veterans justice outreach program" means the VA office charged with early
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identification of justice-involved veterans and facilitating access to services.
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(9) "Veterans justice outreach specialists" means VA representatives tasked with
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identifying justice-involved veterans, conducting outreach, facilitating access to VA and other
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services, and providing case management.
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(10) "Veterans reentry search service" or "VRSS" means the secure database maintained
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by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs enabling correctional and criminal justice
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entities to identify veterans.
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(11) "Veteran sentencing option" means a statutory provision where disposition is
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postponed pending completion of a therapeutic case plan administered by a judge and community
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supervision.
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12-34-3. Definition of "veteran" for criminal justice system.

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(1) For purposes of identification in the Rhode Island criminal justice system, a "veteran"
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is a person who:
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(i) Swore an oath and entered any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National
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Guard or Reserves, and is:
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(ii) Currently serving; or
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(iii) Was discharged, that was not a dishonorable discharge, unless the individual with a
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dishonorable discharge has been diagnosed with substance use disorder, military sexual trauma,
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traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or another mental health condition.
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(2) This definition does not affect veteran status for any other purpose and does not create
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additional rights or benefits.
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12-34-4. Law enforcement applicability.

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(a) Within twenty-four (24) hours of any law enforcement contact, with or without an
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arrest, the administrator of the local law enforcement department shall:
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(1) Provide necessary information for verification through SQUARES to the Rhode Island
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department of veterans services (RIVETS), if applicable, to verify the veteran status of all
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individuals who have made contact with law enforcement.

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(i) The administrator may coordinate with the RIVETS to ensure verification.
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(ii) In the absence of the administrator shall request the veterans justice outreach specialist
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to conduct verification of veteran status.
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(2) In the absence of a designated partner as in subsection (a)(1) of this section, the local
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law enforcement department shall conduct verification using VRSS or similar federal service, or
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request verification from a veterans justice outreach specialist.
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(b) Each week, RIVETS shall submit a report identifying each individual whose veteran
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status was verified during the previous week to:
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(1) The Rhode Island department of veterans services under title 42;
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(2) The nearest veterans justice outreach specialist;
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(3) The court where charges are pending;
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(4) Judge, prosecuting attorney, managing public defender, and the veteran-client's
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attorney of record; and
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(5) Coordinator of any specialty court program authorized by the Rhode Island supreme
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court.
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(c) The administrator shall provide veteran arrestees or inmates reasonable access to:
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(1) Deflection initiative personnel;
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(2) Rhode Island department of veterans services;
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(3) VA representatives to facilitate applications for:
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(i) Identification and referral to community resources;
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(ii) Federal or state benefits or compensation;
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(iii) Treatment through veterans treatment specialty courts or other accountability courts;
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(iv) Diversion programs other than accountability courts;
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(v) Veteran sentencing option; and
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(vi) Sentencing mitigation.
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(d) Notify veteran arrestees and inmates about assigned veterans justice outreach
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specialists.
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(e) Verified veteran status shall be shared with the judge, prosecutor, managing public
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defender, veteran’s attorney, and specialty court coordinator.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 13-8 of the General Laws entitled "Parole" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following section:
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13-8-32.1. Community supervision applicability -- Veterans.

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(a) Within twenty-one (21) days of community supervision sentence or start date, the
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administrator or designee, of Rhode Island probation or parole, or the RIVETS shall:

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(1) Verify veteran status using VRSS or a similar service;
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(2) Notify verified veterans of assigned veterans justice outreach specialists;
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(3) Allow verified veterans in-person or video access to VA or county veterans service
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coordinators;
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(4) Assist verified veterans in applying for federal benefits, including mailing applications
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on behalf of the supervisee;
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(5) Submit weekly reports of verified supervisees to Rhode Island department of veterans
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services.
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SECTION 3. Chapter 42-56 of the General Laws entitled "Corrections Department" is
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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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42-56-43. Administration of veteran status.

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(a) Within seven (7) days of intake, the director of the correctional facility, designee, or
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RIVETS shall:
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(1) Verify veteran status using VRSS or similar service;
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(2) Assist verified veteran inmates with federal benefits and applications;
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(3) Submit weekly reports of newly verified veteran inmates to the Rhode Island
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department of veterans services, and relevant courts;
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(4) Allow in-person or video visitation with VA or veteran coordinators at no cost.
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(b) Administrators shall notify the VA in writing by mail, email, or fax between sixty-one
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(61) and ninety (90) days of initial incarceration for felony veterans still in custody.
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(c) Administrators shall notify the VA within seven (7) days of release from custody for
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inmates incarcerated more than sixty (60) days.
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(d) Verified veteran status shall be shared with the judge, prosecutor, managing public
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defender, veteran’s attorney, and specialty court coordinator.
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SECTION 4. 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 -- VETERANS IDENTIFICATION IN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
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This act would provide services for veterans in the criminal justice system ensuring
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disclosure and connections with federal and state resources.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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