2023 -- H 5215
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LC000548
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST
Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Shanley, Vella-Wilkinson, Noret, and
Costantino
Date Introduced: January 19, 2023
Referred To: House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 12-7 of the General Laws entitled "Arrest" is hereby amended by 1
adding thereto the following section: 2
12-7-1.1. Detention by university or college security. 3
(a) Any duly trained public safety officer, including non-sworn security personnel and 4
guards, employed by any private college or university may, without a warrant, detain any person 5
for any offense, whenever the public safety officer or security guard has reasonable grounds to 6
believe that an offense has been committed within the jurisdiction of that public safety officer or 7
security guard and the officer or guard has reason to believe that the person being detained is 8
responsible for the commission of said criminal offense. 9
(b) Any public safety officer or security guard that detains any individual for the suspected 10
commission of a criminal offense, shall immediately request assistance from either the state police 11
or the local police department having jurisdiction over the private college or university and shall 12
not detain any person beyond a reasonable period while waiting for state or local police assistance. 13
Reasonable period for purposes of this section shall mean a period of time no greater than thirty 14
(30) minutes. 15
(c) All public safety officers and security guards employed by any private college or 16
university subject to this section, shall be trained in the proper use of restraint devices and shall 17
abide by locally or nationally recognized use of force policies. 18
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST
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This act would permit non-sworn public safety officers and non-sworn security guards at 1
private colleges and universities to detain individuals within the campus’s jurisdiction when the 2
officer or guard has reasonable grounds to believe that the person has committed a criminal offense. 3
Upon detaining said person, the non-sworn public safety officers/security guards, must 4
immediately request the assistance of the state police or local police having jurisdiction and may 5
not detain the person for a period of time longer than thirty (30) minutes. 6
This act would take effect upon passage. 7
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