2023 -- S 0413

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LC001287

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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: Senators Tikoian, Raptakis, Felag, Ciccone, Rogers, Burke, and F.
Lombardi

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

adding thereto the following section:

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

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

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

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

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

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

responsible for the commission of said criminal offense.

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

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

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

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

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

(30) minutes.

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

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

abide by locally or nationally recognized use of force policies.

     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

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

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

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

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

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

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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