2023 -- H 5215

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LC000548

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Shanley, Vella-Wilkinson, Noret, and
Costantino

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 12-7 of the General Laws entitled "Arrest" is hereby amended by

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adding thereto the following section:

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     12-7-1.1. Detention by university or college security.

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     (a) Any duly trained public safety officer, including non-sworn security personnel and

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guards, employed by any private college or university may, without a warrant, detain any person

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for any offense, whenever the public safety officer or security guard has reasonable grounds to

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believe that an offense has been committed within the jurisdiction of that public safety officer or

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security guard and the officer or guard has reason to believe that the person being detained is

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responsible for the commission of said criminal offense.

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     (b) Any public safety officer or security guard that detains any individual for the suspected

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commission of a criminal offense, shall immediately request assistance from either the state police

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or the local police department having jurisdiction over the private college or university and shall

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not detain any person beyond a reasonable period while waiting for state or local police assistance.

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Reasonable period for purposes of this section shall mean a period of time no greater than thirty

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(30) minutes.

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     (c) All public safety officers and security guards employed by any private college or

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university subject to this section, shall be trained in the proper use of restraint devices and shall

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abide by locally or nationally recognized use of force policies.

 

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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 -- ARREST

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     This act would permit non-sworn public safety officers and non-sworn security guards at

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private colleges and universities to detain individuals within the campus’s jurisdiction when the

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officer or guard has reasonable grounds to believe that the person has committed a criminal offense.

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Upon detaining said person, the non-sworn public safety officers/security guards, must

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immediately request the assistance of the state police or local police having jurisdiction and may

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not detain the person for a period of time longer than thirty (30) minutes.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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