H 8116Police & Prisons

State Affairs and Government - The Body Cameras for Correctional Facilities Act

This bill requires prison guards to wear body cameras and establishes an independent board to review recorded incidents.

Held for study

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Affected

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Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation mandates that Rhode Island correctional officers wear body cameras while on duty, specifically during interactions with incarcerated individuals such as use-of-force incidents, transport, and medical emergencies. It establishes a protocol where officers must file a written report before viewing incident footage. The bill creates an Independent Incident Oversight Board, consisting of diverse community stakeholders, to review complaints and incidents. Additionally, it requires a six-to-twelve-month pilot program funded by external grants to test the implementation before a potential statewide rollout.

For younger readers

This new rule says that guards working in prisons must wear video cameras on their uniforms, just like many police officers do. They have to turn the cameras on when they are moving prisoners, handling an emergency, or if there is a fight. This helps everyone see exactly what happened later. The rule also creates a special group of people, including community members, to watch the videos and make sure everyone is following the rules. Before using cameras everywhere, they will test them in a few places first to make sure they work correctly.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Correctional officersIncarcerated individualsDepartment of Corrections staffCivil rights organizationsTaxpayers

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Establishes an Independent Incident Oversight Board that includes civil rights representatives and formerly incarcerated individuals, ensuring community-led accountability rather than internal self-policing.
Mandates that staff submit written reports of incidents prior to viewing footage, a crucial procedural safeguard that prevents officers from tailoring their testimony to match the video evidence.
Increases transparency within the correctional system by requiring body cameras during use-of-force incidents and medical emergencies, potentially reducing mistreatment of incarcerated individuals.
Raises significant privacy concerns for incarcerated individuals who are already under constant surveillance, potentially eroding their dignity by recording medical emergencies and daily living situations.
The sixty-day minimum data retention period may be too short for inmates or advocates to identify and report abuse, potentially leading to the destruction of evidence before a complaint can be filed.
Relies on the Department of Corrections to implement the pilot program and self-audit initially, which may lead to resistance or ineffective enforcement of the new standards without immediate external control.

For Conservatives

Provides objective video evidence that can protect correctional officers from false, frivolous, or malicious accusations of misconduct made by inmates.
Mandates that the pilot program be funded through grants and external sources rather than state tax revenue, protecting the taxpayer from immediate financial liability.
Enhances the security and order of correctional facilities by documenting disciplinary proceedings and inmate transport, aiding in the prosecution of crimes committed inside the prison.
Creates a new bureaucratic Independent Incident Oversight Board populated by stakeholders such as civil rights groups, which could be used to politically target law enforcement personnel.
Imposes strict disciplinary actions on staff, including termination and potential civil liability, which may deter qualified individuals from seeking employment in an already difficult field.
Expands government surveillance infrastructure and administrative overhead, likely leading to long-term cost increases for the state despite the initial grant funding requirement.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 104 additions

SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 42-56.4-1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as "The Body Cameras for Correctional Facilities Act". 42-56.4-2. Definitions. The following words shall have the following meanings in this chapter:

(1) "Body camera" means a portable video recording device worn by correctional staff to capture incidents occurring in real time within correctional facilities.

(2) "Incarcerated individuals" means any person held in custody within a facility operated by the department of corrections.

(3) "Staff" means employees or contractors of the department of corrections, including correctional officers, supervisors, and administrators. 42-56.4-3. Body camera requirements.

(a) All correctional staff assigned to direct supervision roles over incarcerated individuals shall wear body cameras while on duty within the facilities.

(b) Staff shall activate body cameras during interactions with incarcerated individuals including, but not limited to:

(1) Use of force incidents;

(2) Transporting individuals;

(3) Medical emergencies; and

(4) Disciplinary proceedings.

(c) Cameras shall record continuously during the aforementioned interactions and shall only be deactivated once the situation is resolved and no further actions are anticipated. 42-56.4-4. Data access and retention.

(a) Recordings shall be retained for a minimum of sixty (60) days, after which the recording shall be securely deleted unless required for an ongoing investigation or legal proceeding.

(b) Access to recordings is strictly limited to authorized personnel including investigators, supervisors, and legal counsel as necessary.

(c) Incarcerated individuals shall be informed through posted notices regarding the use of body cameras within the facility. When practical, individuals shall be notified if recording is occurring at the time of the incident. Individuals shall have the right to request review of footage that directly involves the individual under appropriate circumstances.

(d) Access by staff involved in recorded incidents. Any staff member involved in a recorded use-of-force incident, complaint, or other critical incident shall submit an initial written report prior to reviewing any body camera recording of the incident. Following submission of the initial report, the staff member may review the recording and, if necessary, submit a supplemental report, which shall be clearly designated as such and include the date and time of submission. 42-56.4-5. Accountability and oversight.

(a) The department of corrections shall establish an independent board pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section to oversee the review of recorded incidents involving use of force, complaints against staff, or other critical incidents involving incarcerated individuals.

(b) An independent incident oversight board (“IIOB”) shall be established, consisting of members appointed by key stakeholders, including representatives from civil rights organizations, legal experts, mental health professionals, formerly incarcerated individuals, and community leaders.

(1) Oversee the review of recorded incidents involving use of force, complaints against staff, or other critical incidents involving incarcerated individuals and investigate the complaints and incidents and conduct periodic assessments and audits of facility operations, policies, and practices.

(2) Provide recommendations for improvements and reforms to the department of corrections based on findings.

(d) Rules and regulations. The attorney general and director of the department of corrections shall promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42 (administrative procedures”) to implement and enforce the provisions of this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Standards governing the activation, deactivation, storage, retention, auditing, and preservation of body camera recordings;

(2) Procedures governing access to recordings by staff, incarcerated individuals, investigators, legal counsel, and oversight entities;

(3) The authority, procedures, and responsibilities of the independent incident oversight board; and

(4) Enforcement mechanisms and corrective actions for noncompliance.

(5) The attorney general and director shall provide meaningful opportunity for public comment, including at least one public hearing, prior to the adoption of any final rule or regulation. 42-56.4-6. Reporting requirement, training and non-compliance.

(a) The department of corrections shall provide biannual reports to the general assembly detailing the number of incidents recorded, access requests made by incarcerated individuals, and incidents reviewed by the incident review board.

(b) Comprehensive training shall be provided to all staff on the proper use of body cameras, data privacy, and the importance of maintaining the dignity and rights of incarcerated individuals.

(c) Any staff who fail to comply with body camera policies established in this chapter shall face disciplinary actions up to and including termination of employment, as well as potential civil liabilities.

(d) The department of corrections shall conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with this chapter and assess the effectiveness of body camera utilization. 42-56.4-7. Implementation.

(a) Legislative intent and passage. It is the intent of the general assembly to enhance safety, accountability, and transparency within Rhode Island's correctional system and for the protection of correctional officers, inmates, and staff that incidents subject to recording be captured in their entirety.

(b) General implementation timeline. The department shall implement and establish the necessary protocol and training programs for the statewide use of body cameras within six (6) months of the effective date of this chapter and written policies.

(c) Pilot program required. To ensure effective and accountable implementation, the department shall initiate a structured pilot program within the timeframe set forth in subsection (b) of this section. The pilot program shall deploy body-worn cameras in two (2) to three (3) high- interaction operational settings, such as a housing unit and transportation detail.

(d) Pilot program duration. The pilot program shall be conducted for a period of not less than six (6) months and not more than twelve (12) months.

(e) Funding responsibility. The director of the department of corrections, in coordination with the attorney general's office, shall be responsible for identifying, writing, and obtaining all necessary grants or other external funding from federal, state, or private sources to fully fund the pilot program described in this section. A report on funding efforts shall be included in the department's biannual report to the general assembly as required under § 42-56.4-6.

(f) Pilot oversight and evaluation. The pilot program shall be governed by the rules promulgated under chapter 56 or title 42 (“corrections department”) and shall be subject to oversight by the independent incident oversight board (“IIOB”). The department shall evaluate key metrics including activation compliance, use-of-force incident resolution, complaint adjudication, and safety indicators. The department shall provide a mid-pilot report and a final evaluation report to the general assembly.

(g) Report and expansion plan. The final report required under subsection (f) of this section shall include a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis, recommended policy adjustments based on pilot findings, and a clear, evidence-based plan for statewide expansion, modification, or discontinuation of the body camera program.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.