Makes sexual contact or penetration between any law enforcement officer that is on duty and a person that is a detainee, arrestee, in custody or a suspect a felony.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would make it a serious crime (a felony) for any law enforcement officer who is on duty to engage in sexual contact or sexual penetration with someone they have authority over — specifically, anyone who is detained, arrested, in custody, or considered a suspect. Under this bill, it would not matter whether the person appeared to "consent," because the law would treat such situations as inherently unequal in power, making true consent impossible.

The bill affects two main groups of people. First, it directly protects individuals who are in contact with law enforcement in a vulnerable position — such as someone who has been pulled over, arrested, or held in a jail or holding facility. Second, it places clear legal boundaries on law enforcement officers, making clear that any sexual conduct in these circumstances is a criminal offense that could result in felony charges and serious legal consequences for the officer involved.

Currently, Rhode Island law may not explicitly address this situation as its own separate crime, which could create legal gray areas. This bill closes that gap by creating a specific law that clearly defines this behavior as misconduct and a felony. It applies to any law enforcement officer who is on duty at the time of the incident, regardless of the specific law enforcement agency they work for. The bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further review.