Bill > H5650

This bill modifies Rhode Island's family court laws to restrict the detention and commitment of children 12 years old and younger to training schools, with specific exceptions for serious offenses. Under the new provisions, family courts are prohibited from detaining or committing children 12 and under to training schools for most offenses, with the only exceptions being murder, first-degree sexual assault, or attempts to commit such offenses. Even in those exceptional cases, the court must first determine that no other reasonable placement exists to ensure the safety of the youth and the general public. The bill requires the court to explore alternative placements, such as with relatives or in other supervised settings, before considering detention at a training school. These changes aim to reduce the potential negative impacts of institutional detention on very young children, recognizing that such environments may be harmful to their development and rehabilitation. The modifications apply to both temporary detention and long-term commitment proceedings, and the act will take effect immediately upon passage.

Justice

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