Legislation

We opposed legislation which would have imposed harsh financial penalties on use of a number of unregistered vehicles like ATVs and dirt bikes and which incorporated questionable forfeiture protocols.

We supported this legislation which would have increased the daily wages for incarcerated workers from $3 per day to $6 per day.

We strongly supported legislation which would have required a fiscal impact analyses for any bills which increase or put in place criminal sentences.

In accordance with the ACLU of RI’s longstanding opposition to laws that disqualify former felons from a wide array of rights, benefits, and privileges, we opposed this broad legislation which would have made it a crime under state law for any ex-felon to possess a firearm.

We strongly supported this legislation which would have reclassified the simple possession of 28 grams or less of certain controlled substances from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Noting that “life without parole” sentencing robs incarcerated individuals of any rehabilitative hope, is a type of sentencing with a racially discriminatory impact, and is wasteful, we supported legislation which would have eliminated this criminal sentence in Rhode Island.

We strongly supported legislation which would have required that the parental status of a defendant be taken into account as a component of the sentencing process.

We opposed legislation that would have made it a felony for teachers, coaches, or any other person in a “position of authority” to fail to report child abuse or neglect.

Though we appreciated the intentions behind this legislation, which would have eliminated the statute of limitations for filing civil suits alleging sexual abuse, we opposed the bill.