Bill Sponsors
Read, Noret, J. Brien, Chippendale, Casey, Corvese, O'Brien, Fascia, Santucci, and Cotter
Committee
House Judiciary
Summary
Select
This bill makes it a crime for anyone currently in the custody of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections to use force or a weapon to resist a lawful request or directive from a corrections officer. Violators can be punished by a fine of up to $500, up to one year in prison, or both. It adds this specific rule for inmates to the state's existing law that prohibits resisting arrest by a peace officer.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Specifically requires that the corrections officer's directive be "lawful" for the charge to apply, protecting inmates from being penalized for resisting illegal or abusive orders.
- Requires the use of "force or any weapon" to trigger a violation, meaning peaceful non-compliance or verbal refusal is not criminalized under this specific statute.
- Caps the punishment at a misdemeanor level (up to $500 or one year in prison), which prevents prosecutors from levying excessive felony charges for minor physical resistance incidents.
Cons for Progressives
- Expands the criminalization of behavior within the prison system, potentially leading to longer sentences and further entangling already incarcerated individuals in the justice system.
- The broad nature of what constitutes a "lawful request or directive" could give corrections officers excessive power to criminalize minor conflicts or misunderstandings.
- Relies on punitive measures rather than addressing the root causes of inmate resistance, such as poor prison conditions, overcrowding, or untreated mental health crises.
Pros for Conservatives
- Enhances the safety and authority of corrections officers by establishing clear criminal penalties for inmates who use force or weapons against them.
- Promotes strict law and order within the Department of Corrections by deterring violent resistance to official directives.
- Provides the state and prosecutors with an additional, specific legal tool to hold unruly and violent inmates accountable for their actions.
Cons for Conservatives
- Includes a caveat that the directive must be "lawful," which could provide a loophole for inmates to tie up the court system by arguing the officer's request was invalid.
- The maximum penalty of a $500 fine or one year in prison may be viewed as far too lenient for an inmate using a weapon or physical force against a law enforcement officer.
- Could increase the financial burden on taxpayers by extending inmates' sentences by up to a year, thereby increasing the costs of housing and feeding prisoners.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely. The bill regulates physical force and weapons used against corrections officers giving lawful directives. It does not criminalize speech or peaceful protest, and it maintains due process requirements by explicitly requiring the directive to be "lawful."
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Inmates in the Rhode Island Department of Corrections
- Corrections officers
- Peace officers
- Criminal defense attorneys
- State prosecutors
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Amount unknown
Revenue Generated
Amount unknown
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
Importance
Measures population affected and overall level of impact.
Freedom Impact
Level of individual freedom impacted by the bill.
Public Services
How much the bill is likely to impact one or more public services.
Regulatory
Estimated regulatory burden imposed on the subject(s) of the bill.
Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
Impact the bill will have on the environment, positive or negative.
Privacy Impact
Impact the bill is likely to have on the privacy of individuals.
Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 04/17/2026 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
• 04/24/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/30/2026)
• 04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
• 04/24/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/30/2026)
• 04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 12-7-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-7 entitled "Arrest" is hereby amended to read as follows:
12-7-10.Resisting legal or illegal arrest Resisting legal or illegal arrest by peace officer-Resisting directive of correctional officer.
(a)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to use force or any weapon in resisting a legal or an illegal arrest by a peace officer, if the person has reasonable ground to believe that he or she is being arrested and that the arrest is being made by a peace officer.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person in custody of the Rhode Island department of corrections to use any force or weapon to resist a lawful request or directive by a corrections officer.
(b) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both fine and imprisonment.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
12-7-10.
(a)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to use force or any weapon in resisting a legal or an illegal arrest by a peace officer, if the person has reasonable ground to believe that he or she is being arrested and that the arrest is being made by a peace officer.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person in custody of the Rhode Island department of corrections to use any force or weapon to resist a lawful request or directive by a corrections officer.
(b) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both fine and imprisonment.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.