Provides that a defendant's third and subsequent violation of domestic violence offenses, including both prior felony and misdemeanor convictions, would be punishable as a felony.

Plain-English Summary

This bill changes how Rhode Island courts handle repeat domestic violence offenders. Under the proposed law, if someone is convicted of a domestic violence offense for the third time or more, that offense would automatically be treated as a felony — a more serious category of crime that typically carries heavier punishments, including longer potential prison sentences. Importantly, this applies regardless of whether the prior convictions were felonies or misdemeanors, meaning even two previous lower-level (misdemeanor) domestic violence convictions would count toward triggering the felony upgrade.

The bill primarily affects people who have been convicted of domestic violence offenses at least twice before and then commit another offense. For these individuals, what might otherwise be charged as a misdemeanor on its third occurrence would instead be elevated to a felony charge. This distinction matters significantly, as felony convictions generally result in longer incarceration, loss of certain civil rights (such as the right to own a firearm), and a more serious permanent criminal record.

For victims of domestic violence, the intent of the bill is to provide stronger legal protection by ensuring that repeat offenders face increasingly serious legal consequences. For the broader court and prison system, the change could mean more individuals facing felony-level prosecution and potentially longer sentences, which may have implications for caseloads and incarceration rates in Rhode Island.

The bill has been recommended for passage by committee and is currently placed on the House Calendar for consideration, meaning it is moving forward in the legislative process.