Skip to main content
S 2990Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure - Arrest

Designates DCYF juvenile program workers as peace officers, but only while working at the Rhode Island Training School.

Held for study
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends the Rhode Island state laws regarding arrests to expand the legal definition of a "peace officer." Specifically, it grants peace officer status to juvenile program workers and shift coordinators employed by the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). However, this designation is limited; these individuals are considered peace officers only while they are actively performing their duties at the Rhode Island Training School. They do not hold this status when off-duty or working elsewhere.

For younger readers

This bill changes the rules about who is considered a "peace officer." A peace officer is someone like a police officer who helps keep people safe and follows the law. This bill says that workers who take care of young people at the Rhode Island Training School (a place for kids who have been in trouble) will now be peace officers too. However, they only have these special powers when they are actually at work. When they go home for the day, they are just regular citizens again.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Juvenile program workersShift coordinatorsRhode Island Training School residentsDepartment of Children Youth and Families (DCYF)Local law enforcement agencies
Impacted communities
Cranston

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Improves workplace safety for state employees working in high-stress environments by granting them the legal authority necessary to manage volatile situations effectively.
  • Includes strict limitations that restrict peace officer authority solely to the performance of duties at the Training School, preventing the expansion of police powers into the general community.
  • May reduce the need to call external police forces into the facility for minor disturbances, potentially keeping disciplinary measures internal and less criminalizing for the youth.
  • Expands the "carceral state" by converting social service and youth care roles into law enforcement positions, potentially shifting the focus from rehabilitation to policing.
  • Increases the likelihood of physical force or legal interventions being used against vulnerable youth populations within the state care system.
  • Blurring the lines between caregivers and police officers may damage trust between the youth residents and the staff meant to support them.
For Conservatives
  • Strengthens law and order within state-run juvenile detention facilities by empowering staff with the legal authority to enforce rules and maintain discipline.
  • Enhances the security of the Rhode Island Training School, ensuring that staff can legally respond to threats or escapes without waiting for outside law enforcement.
  • Protects state employees by providing them with the legal standing of peace officers, which acts as a deterrent against assaults on staff.
  • Expands the size and scope of government by granting special police powers to a new class of state bureaucrats and social workers.
  • Potentially increases taxpayer costs if the "peace officer" designation leads to demands for enhanced pension benefits or higher pay tiers for these employees.
  • Increases state liability exposure, as the government is often held responsible for the actions and potential excessive force used by designated peace officers.

Votes

Loading votes...

Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 6 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 Rhode Island department of children, youth and families; provided that, they shall be deemed to be peace officers while in performance of their duties for the Rhode Island training school only, and shall not be deemed to be peace officers at any time when they are not in performance of said duties.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.