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Legislation

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All Legislation

Legislation
Mar 23, 2021
Placeholder image
  • Criminal Justice|
  • +2 Issues

School Resource Officers

The ACLU has long opposed the introduction of SROs to school campuses in RI, as their presence can inappropriately redefine normal adolescent behaviors into issues of criminal justice. Two pieces of legislation would address the presence of SRO’s on campuses – one positively, and one negatively.
Legislation
Mar 22, 2021
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  • Criminal Justice|
  • +1 Issue

Ban on Private Prisons (H 5749, S 399)

Prompted by the re-entrance into an agreement with ICE by the Wyatt Detention Center, legislation was introduced which would have barred private prisons from operating in the state of Rhode Island entirely and limited the ability for carceral facilities in Rhode Island to cooperate with ICE.
Legislation
Mar 22, 2021
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  • Criminal Justice

Personal Care Attendant Criminal Record Checks (H 5845)

This legislation would have placed even more stringent criminal record check requirements on Medicaid- funded personal care attendants than are currently required.
Legislation
Mar 19, 2021
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  • Criminal Justice

Civil Death (H 5875)

To our knowledge, Rhode Island remains the only state to still have a statute on the books which declares any person serving a life sentence in prison “civilly dead.”
Legislation
Mar 12, 2021
Placeholder image
  • Criminal Justice

Reclassification of Drugs (H 5384)

We supported an important bill which would reclassify the simple possession of drugs from a felony to a misdemeanor offense.
Legislation
Mar 11, 2021
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  • Criminal Justice

Juvenile Interrogation (H 5880, S 536)

This bill would have prohibited the questioning of a juvenile suspected of criminal activity without a parent or legal guardian present.
Legislation
Mar 08, 2021
Placeholder image
  • Criminal Justice

Animal Cruelty Lifetime Ban (H 5617, S 309)

We opposed legislation which would have subjected an individual convicted of an animal cruelty offense to a lifetime ban on owning or exercising control over animals.
Legislation
Mar 08, 2021
Placeholder image
  • Criminal Justice

School Volunteer Criminal Record Check (H 5748, S 393)

In a move that would have further prevented parents and guardians from meaningfully engaging in their student’s schooling if the parent or guardian has a criminal record, this bill would have required a federal background check before any person could volunteer or intern at a school in RI.
Legislation
Mar 08, 2021
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  • Criminal Justice

Marijuana Expungement (H 5103 & H 5307)

As the passage of legislation legalizing recreational marijuana becomes more likely in Rhode Island, it is just as critical that expansive social justice measures accompany the legalization process. One such measure would be providing for the expungement of marijuana offenses from criminal records.
Legislation
Mar 23, 2021
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Legislation
Mar 23, 2021
  • Criminal Justice|
  • +2 Issues

School Resource Officers

The ACLU has long opposed the introduction of SROs to school campuses in RI, as their presence can inappropriately redefine normal adolescent behaviors into issues of criminal justice. Two pieces of legislation would address the presence of SRO’s on campuses – one positively, and one negatively.
Explore Legislation
Legislation
Mar 22, 2021
Placeholder image
Legislation
Mar 22, 2021
  • Criminal Justice|
  • +1 Issue

Ban on Private Prisons (H 5749, S 399)

Prompted by the re-entrance into an agreement with ICE by the Wyatt Detention Center, legislation was introduced which would have barred private prisons from operating in the state of Rhode Island entirely and limited the ability for carceral facilities in Rhode Island to cooperate with ICE.
Explore Legislation
Legislation
Mar 22, 2021
Placeholder image
Legislation
Mar 22, 2021
  • Criminal Justice

Personal Care Attendant Criminal Record Checks (H 5845)

This legislation would have placed even more stringent criminal record check requirements on Medicaid- funded personal care attendants than are currently required.
Explore Legislation
Legislation
Mar 19, 2021
Placeholder image
Legislation
Mar 19, 2021
  • Criminal Justice

Civil Death (H 5875)

To our knowledge, Rhode Island remains the only state to still have a statute on the books which declares any person serving a life sentence in prison “civilly dead.”
Explore Legislation
Legislation
Mar 12, 2021
Placeholder image
Legislation
Mar 12, 2021
  • Criminal Justice

Reclassification of Drugs (H 5384)

We supported an important bill which would reclassify the simple possession of drugs from a felony to a misdemeanor offense.
Explore Legislation
Legislation
Mar 11, 2021
Placeholder image
Legislation
Mar 11, 2021
  • Criminal Justice

Juvenile Interrogation (H 5880, S 536)

This bill would have prohibited the questioning of a juvenile suspected of criminal activity without a parent or legal guardian present.
Explore Legislation
Legislation
Mar 08, 2021
Placeholder image
Legislation
Mar 08, 2021
  • Criminal Justice

Animal Cruelty Lifetime Ban (H 5617, S 309)

We opposed legislation which would have subjected an individual convicted of an animal cruelty offense to a lifetime ban on owning or exercising control over animals.
Explore Legislation
Legislation
Mar 08, 2021
Placeholder image
Legislation
Mar 08, 2021
  • Criminal Justice

School Volunteer Criminal Record Check (H 5748, S 393)

In a move that would have further prevented parents and guardians from meaningfully engaging in their student’s schooling if the parent or guardian has a criminal record, this bill would have required a federal background check before any person could volunteer or intern at a school in RI.
Explore Legislation
Legislation
Mar 08, 2021
Placeholder image
Legislation
Mar 08, 2021
  • Criminal Justice

Marijuana Expungement (H 5103 & H 5307)

As the passage of legislation legalizing recreational marijuana becomes more likely in Rhode Island, it is just as critical that expansive social justice measures accompany the legalization process. One such measure would be providing for the expungement of marijuana offenses from criminal records.
Explore Legislation
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