2025 -- H 5297
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LC000649
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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. 2025
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT
Introduced By: Representatives Perez, Felix, Hull, J. Lombardi, Fellela, DeSimone,
Batista, Diaz, Bennett, and Morales
Date Introduced: February 05, 2025
Referred To: House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 42-56 of the General Laws entitled "Corrections Department" is 1
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
42-56-43. Conjugal visits. 3
(a) Conditions of conjugal visits. 4
(1) Conjugal visits for persons incarcerated at state correctional facilities shall not be 5
recorded or monitored by video surveillance. 6
(2) The exchange of contraband during conjugal visits is strictly prohibited and shall result 7
in disciplinary action against both the inmate and the visitor involved. 8
(3) Conjugal visits shall have a maximum duration of four (4) hours. 9
(4) An inmate may have up to six (6) conjugal visits per year. 10
(5) The warden or other building director of the state correctional facility: 11
(i) Shall have the discretion to suspend conjugal visits; provided that, the inmate is awarded 12
at least one conjugal visit per calendar year, except as provided otherwise in this section; and 13
(ii) May deem an inmate a danger to themselves or others, and upon making that 14
determination, may entirely suspend conjugal visits during a calendar year. 15
(b) Scheduling of conjugal visits. 16
(1) To schedule a conjugal visit, a person shall adhere to the visitation rules and procedures 17
established by the department of corrections. This process shall include, at a minimum: 18
(i) Registering in the inmate visitation system and including a copy of a marriage certificate 19
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showing the person requesting the visit is married to the incarcerated person for whom the visit is 1
requested; 2
(ii) Submitting a visitor registration form; 3
(iii) Confirming the visit with the specific state correctional facility; and 4
(iv) Following the rules and procedures for visitation in the specific correctional facility. 5
(c) Implementation: 6
(1) The department of corrections shall promulgate and enforce rules and regulations 7
governing conjugal visits within the state's correctional facilities to administer and implement the 8
provisions of this section. 9
(2) The department shall provide guidance and training to correctional facility staff 10
regarding the implementation of conjugal visitation policies and procedures at state correctional 11
facilities. 12
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2026. 13
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT
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This act would set standards and procedures to allow and implement conjugal visitation at 1
state correctional facilities. This act also directs the department of corrections to establish and 2
enforce rules and regulations governing conjugal visits. 3
This act would take effect on January 1, 2026. 4
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LC000649
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