2023 -- S 0621

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LC002254

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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 Kallman, Miller, Acosta, McKenney, Euer, Britto, Murray, and
DiMario

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2023

     Referred To: Senate 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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     12-7-23. Limitations on civil arrests.

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     (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section or for a crime committed and

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witnessed in the immediate presence of a law enforcement officer, no person shall be arrested while

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in the act of seeking immediate access to the courts or a judicial proceeding.

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     (b) A person duly and in good faith attending a court proceeding in which the person is a

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party or potential witness, or a family or household member is a party or potential witness, is

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privileged from civil arrest while going to, remaining at, and returning from, the place of the court

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proceeding, unless the arrest is supported by an arrest warrant issued by a court of competent

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jurisdiction or other judicial order authorizing a criminal or civil arrest. Evidence of intent to attend

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a court proceeding shall include, but not be limited to, providing a copy of a complaint, summons,

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subpoena or documents involving the person or a family or household member relative to a

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contemporaneously scheduled court hearing.

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     (c) It shall constitute contempt of the court and false imprisonment for any person to

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willfully violate this section by executing an arrest prohibited by this section or willfully assisting

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or willfully facilitating an arrest prohibited by this section; provided, however, that nothing herein

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shall affect any right or defense of any person, police officer, peace officer or public officer for an

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arrest made in good faith.

 

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     (d) Regardless of whether a proceeding for contempt of the court pursuant to subsection

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(c) of this section has been initiated:

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     (1) A person arrested in violation of this section may bring a civil action for appropriate

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equitable and declaratory relief;

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     (2) The department of attorney general may bring an action on behalf of the person arrested

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and/or on behalf of the court in the court's discretion; and

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     (3) In any successful action brought pursuant to the provision of this section, the person

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shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees.

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     (e) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to narrow or in any way lessen any

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common law or other right or privilege of a person to be free from unlawful arrest.

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     (f) As used in this section:

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     (1) "Civil arrest" means an arrest that is not for the sole or primary purpose of preparing

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the person subject to arrest for a violation of criminal law for which a duly authorized arrest warrant

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has been executed by a judge of this state, any other state or by a federal judge or magistrate for

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which a term of imprisonment is authorized by law.

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     (2) "Court proceeding" means any appearance in a court of this state before any judge or

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magistrate or other judicial officer or a hearing scheduled by any judicial officer, including clerks

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of the court, or the filing of any papers, petitions or requests for relief designed to initiate an

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appearance before any judge, magistrate or judicial officer.

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     (3) "Family or household member" shall have their ordinary meanings and shall mean

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anyone related by blood or marriage and any persons who are co-habiting.

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     (g) If any provision of this section or the application thereof to any person or circumstances

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is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this section, which

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can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end, the provisions of

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this section are declared to be severable.

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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 prohibit the civil arrest of any person who is attending court either on behalf

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of themselves or a family or household member. Any person who violates this act shall be subject

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to civil suit, and for contempt of court.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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