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S 2143Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure - Arrest

This bill classifies DCYF juvenile program workers and shift coordinators as peace officers under state law.

Introduced
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 16, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends the state's legal definition of a "peace officer." Specifically, it expands the list of recognized peace officers to include juvenile program workers and shift coordinators employed by the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). By adding these specific job titles to the existing statute, these employees will gain the legal status and authority associated with peace officers under Rhode Island law, which generally pertains to arrest powers and authority while performing their duties.

For younger readers

This law changes a list of people who are called "peace officers." Peace officers are people like police who have special rules for keeping things safe and following the law. This bill adds workers who help take care of kids in the state system (DCYF) to that list. Specifically, it adds the workers who run programs for young people and the managers who organize their shifts. Now, the law treats them the same as other peace officers while they are doing their jobs.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Juvenile program workersShift coordinatorsDCYF staffYouth in state custodyPolice departments
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Ensures better workplace safety and legal recognition for state employees working with at-risk youth in potentially volatile environments.
  • Standardizes the authority of custodial staff within the juvenile justice system, ensuring they have the legal standing necessary to manage crises effectively without relying solely on external police.
  • Acknowledges the difficult and often dangerous nature of the work performed by DCYF staff, validating their role in the public safety and rehabilitation ecosystem.
  • Expands the definition of law enforcement, potentially shifting the focus of juvenile care from rehabilitation and social support to policing and control.
  • Increases the likelihood of youth in state care entering the criminal justice pipeline by granting arrest powers to their daily caretakers.
  • Blurs the lines between social work and law enforcement, potentially eroding trust between vulnerable youth and the staff meant to support them.
For Conservatives
  • Strengthens law and order within juvenile facilities by granting staff the necessary legal authority to detain individuals and maintain control.
  • Enhances the protection of state employees who work in dangerous environments with potentially violent offenders.
  • Empowers the government to effectively enforce rules and regulations within state-run institutions immediately, without waiting for municipal police intervention.
  • Expands the size and scope of the government's police power by designating non-police bureaucrats as law enforcement officers.
  • Increases the number of state agents empowered to interfere with personal liberty and conduct arrests.
  • Potentially paves the way for increased government spending on training, liability insurance, and benefits associated with law enforcement status.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 4 additions · 1 deletion

SECTION 1. Section 12-7-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-7 entitled "Arrest" is hereby amended to read as follows: 12-7-21. “Peace officer” defined. “Peace officer,” as used within this chapter, means the following individuals or members of:

(1) Rhode Island state police;

(2) Any member of a municipal or local police department;

(3) Rhode Island airport corporation police;

(4) Rhode Island park police;

(5) Rhode Island capitol police;

(6) Rhode Island conservation officers;

(7) Rhode Island department of environmental management officers;

(8) Rhode Island fire marshals;

(9) Brown University police officers;

(10) University of Rhode Island campus police officers;

(11) Rhode Island College campus security;

(12) Campus security at the Community College of Rhode Island;

(13) Rhode Island sheriff’s department;

(14) The investigators of the department of attorney general appointed pursuant to § 42-9- 8.1;

(15) Any federal law enforcement officer;

(16) Correctional investigators, chief inspector and inspectors within the office of inspections, and correctional officers of the Rhode Island department of corrections;

(17) The witness protection coordinator of the department of attorney general;

(18) The warden, associate wardens, majors, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, correctional officers and investigators employed by a project operated by a municipal detention facility corporation, including, but not limited to, the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility; provided, such parties listed in this subsection (18) herein shall be deemed to be peace officers while in performance of their duties for the municipal detention facility only, and shall not be deemed to be peace officers at any time when they are not in performance of said duties;

(19) Retired non-permanent sworn members of any municipal police department shall be deemed to be peace officers only while in the performance of their duties for any municipal police department, and shall be permitted to carry their firearm while in the performance of their duties for the municipal police department, and shall be subject to in-service training requirements of title 42, chapter 28;

(20) Auto theft investigators appointed pursuant to § 31-50-1;

(21) Providence fire department arson investigators; provided, that the arson investigator is a graduate of a police-training academy; and

(22) Rhode Island School of Design police officers; and

(23) Juvenile program workers and shift coordinators of the department of children, youth and families.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.