Permits non-sworn public safety officers/security guards at private colleges/universities to detain individuals for no longer than 30 minutes within the campus’s jurisdiction if the officer or guard believes the person committed a criminal offense.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would give non-sworn public safety officers and security guards at private colleges and universities in Rhode Island a limited legal authority to temporarily detain someone on campus. Specifically, if one of these guards believes a person has committed a crime, they could hold that person for up to 30 minutes while waiting for sworn law enforcement (such as local police) to arrive. Currently, private campus security guards generally do not have this legal detention authority — they have roughly the same powers as any private citizen.

The bill would only apply within the boundaries of private college and university campuses, and only to security personnel employed by those institutions. It would not apply to public colleges or universities, nor would it give these guards the full arrest powers that sworn police officers have. The 30-minute time limit is meant to serve as a clear boundary on how long someone can be held.

This bill would primarily affect students, faculty, staff, visitors, and anyone else present on a private college campus in Rhode Island, as well as the security personnel who work there. Supporters of similar measures often argue it helps bridge the gap between a security guard spotting a crime and police arriving on scene. Those with concerns typically raise questions about civil liberties and the potential for misuse of detention authority by non-sworn personnel.

The bill was introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has recommended it be held for further study, meaning it has not yet advanced to a full vote.