Legislation

The ACLU testified in support of legislation to limit this the practice of civil asset forfeiture by requiring an individual to be convicted of an offense before their assets can be relinquished, and ensuring that co-owners of assets are not unfairly punished.

The U.S. Supreme Court banned states from imposing on juvenile offenders a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without parole, but states retain the discretion to impose the penalty on a case-by-case basis. Legislation sought to make this off-limits altogether for juvenile defendants in RI.

Possibly the worst result of the legislative session was the expiration of the state’s life-saving Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Act.

In April, the ACLU testified before the House Judiciary committee in support of legislation to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana use by adults.