S 2991Police & Prisons

State Affairs and Government - The Body Cameras for Correctional Facilities Act - The Willie Washington, Jr. Act

Mandates body cameras for correctional officers, establishes data retention rules, and creates an independent oversight board to review incidents.

Held for study

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Affected

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Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation, cited as "The Willie Washington, Jr. Act," mandates that all Rhode Island Department of Corrections staff in direct supervision roles wear body cameras. These cameras must record specific interactions with incarcerated individuals, including use of force, medical emergencies, and disciplinary proceedings. The bill establishes strict data retention protocols and creates an Independent Incident Oversight Board (IIOB)—comprised of diverse stakeholders including civil rights representatives and formerly incarcerated individuals—to review incidents and complaints. Additionally, it outlines training requirements, disciplinary measures for non-compliance, and requires biannual reporting to the General Assembly.

For younger readers

This new rule is for people who work as guards in prisons. It says they must wear special cameras on their uniforms. When they are doing important things, like moving people who live in the prison or handling an emergency, they have to turn the cameras on. This creates a video of what happened so everyone can be sure people are being treated fairly. A group of people from outside the prison will watch the videos to check for mistakes. If guards do not use the cameras, they could get in trouble or lose their jobs.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Correctional OfficersIncarcerated IndividualsDepartment of Corrections AdministratorsCivil Rights OrganizationsLegal Counsel

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 (IIOB) that includes formerly incarcerated individuals and civil rights representatives, ensuring community-led accountability rather than internal police self-regulation.
Mandates video documentation of use-of-force incidents and medical emergencies, providing critical evidence to protect the civil rights and physical safety of incarcerated individuals against potential abuse.
Implements strict non-compliance penalties, including potential termination, for staff who fail to use cameras, addressing the systemic issue of law enforcement avoiding accountability measures.
The sixty-day data retention minimum may be too short for incarcerated individuals to secure legal representation or file complaints, potentially allowing evidence of misconduct to be deleted before it can be used.
Allows staff to deactivate cameras once they determine a situation is "resolved," creating a potential loophole where the immediate aftermath of a use-of-force incident might go unrecorded.
While it allows inmates to request footage, access is still controlled by "authorized personnel," which could lead to bureaucratic stonewalling or delays in accessing exculpatory evidence for the incarcerated person.

For Conservatives

Provides objective video evidence that can protect correctional officers against false or frivolous accusations of misconduct made by inmates.
Enhances the professionalism and training standards of state employees, ensuring that tax dollars are spent on a disciplined and accountable workforce.
Creates clear documentation of disciplinary proceedings and inmate behavior, which can be used to justify necessary enforcement actions and maintain order within facilities.
Establishes an unelected oversight board populated by "civil rights organizations" and "formerly incarcerated individuals," effectively handing authority over law enforcement to political activists and criminals.
Imposes significant new administrative costs and bureaucratic red tape on the Department of Corrections for data storage, equipment maintenance, and compliance auditing.
Threatens the employment and privacy of correctional officers with strict termination clauses for procedural errors regarding camera usage, potentially hurting staff retention.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 60 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 Willie Washington, Jr. 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 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. 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;

(2) Conduct periodic assessments and audits of facility operations, policies, and practices; and

(3) Provide recommendations for improvements and reforms to the department of corrections based on findings. 42-56.4-6. Reporting requirement -- Training -- 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 the provisions of this chapter and assess the effectiveness of body camera utilization. 42-56.4-7. Implementation. The department shall implement and establish the necessary protocol and training programs within six (6) months after the effective date of this chapter.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.