Permits the family court to retain jurisdiction over juveniles and allow the family court to order juveniles detained in the training school until the age of twenty-one if the court finds that it is in the best interest of the child.

Rhode Island Senate Bill Summary

This bill would give Rhode Island's Family Court the authority to keep jurisdiction over juvenile offenders past the age of 18 and, in certain cases, order that they remain detained at the state's training school (a secure juvenile facility) until they turn 21. Currently, the Family Court's jurisdiction over juveniles typically ends when they reach adulthood at age 18. This bill would extend that window by up to three additional years.

The key condition for this extended detention is that the court must determine it is in the "best interest of the child" to remain under Family Court supervision rather than transitioning to the adult criminal justice system. This means a judge would need to make a specific finding about the individual young person's situation before ordering the extended stay.

This bill would primarily affect young people who are currently in the juvenile justice system and approaching adulthood, as well as their families. It could also impact the staff and capacity of the state's training school, which would need to house individuals up to age 21. Supporters of similar policies often argue it allows young people to complete rehabilitation programs, while critics sometimes raise questions about prolonged detention of individuals who are legally adults.

The bill has been introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, meaning it is in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been voted on.