2023 -- H 5757 AS AMENDED
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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 OFFENSES -- SEXUAL ASSAULT -- SHERRY'S LAW
Introduced By: Representatives Roberts, Kazarian, Craven, Chippendale, Casimiro,
Donovan, Cortvriend, Speakman, McNamara, and Hull
Date Introduced: February 21, 2023
Referred To: House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as Sherry’s Law 1
SECTION 2. Sections 11-37-3 and 11-37-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-37 entitled 2
"Sexual Assault" are hereby amended to read as follows: 3
11-37-3. Penalty for first degree sexual assault Penalty for first degree sexual assault 4
- Sherry’s Law. 5
Every person who shall commit sexual assault in the first degree shall be imprisoned for a 6
period not less than ten (10) fifteen (15) years; provided, the first ten (10) years shall be served and 7
the person shall not be afforded the benefits of deferment or suspension of sentence and may be 8
imprisoned for life. 9
11-37-5. Penalty for second degree sexual assault Penalty for second degree sexual 10
assault - Sherry’s Law. 11
Every person who shall commit sexual assault in the second degree shall be imprisoned for 12
not less than three (3) five (5) years; provided, the first five (5) years shall be served and the person 13
shall not be afforded the benefits of deferment or suspension of sentence and not more than fifteen 14
(15) years. 15
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall be applicable to all those 16
offenses committed after passage. 17
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL ASSAULT -- SHERRY'S LAW
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This act would increase the minimum sentence for first degree and second degree sexual 1
assault and provides that the first ten (10) years of a sentence for first degree sexual assault and the 2
first five (5) years for second degree sexual assault, not be subject to a suspension or deferment of 3
sentence. 4
This act would take effect upon passage and would be applicable to all those offenses 5
committed after passage. 6
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