2025 -- S 0814 | |
======== | |
LC002218 | |
======== | |
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE | |
| |
Introduced By: Senators Dimitri, Patalano, Tikoian, Burke, Appollonio, Raptakis, | |
Date Introduced: March 14, 2025 | |
Referred To: Senate Judiciary | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 11-32-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-32 entitled "Obstructing |
2 | Justice" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 11-32-2. False report of crime False report of crime or official misconduct. |
4 | (a) Every person who shall knowingly make or cause to be made, whether oral or written, |
5 | a false statement of a: |
6 | (1) A crime, either oral or written, with intent that it be relied upon by a police officer of |
7 | any city or town or by any member of the state police,; |
8 | (2) An official formal complaint of misconduct by any law enforcement personnel and/or |
9 | law enforcement department/agency; or |
10 | (3) An official formal complaint of misconduct by emergency personnel and/or emergency |
11 | department/agent; shall be deemed guilty of obstructing an officer a misdemeanor and shall be |
12 | imprisoned not exceeding one year and/or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), and |
13 | shall in addition to this imprisonment and/or fine be ordered to make restitution to the person falsely |
14 | accused of a crime or misconduct for any damage which the person sustained as a result of the false |
15 | complaint. |
16 | (b) For purposes of this section: |
17 | (1) “Law enforcement” means any permanently employed city or town police officer, state |
18 | police officer, public safety officer, sheriff, or capitol police officer. |
19 | (2) "Emergency personnel" means emergency services officials, first aid, emergency |
| |
1 | medical technicians and personnel, fire safety officials and hospital staff. |
2 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC002218 | |
======== | |
| LC002218 - Page 2 of 3 |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE | |
*** | |
1 | This act would make it a misdemeanor to knowingly file a false report of misconduct of |
2 | any law enforcement official, public safety official, or hospital staff. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC002218 | |
======== | |
| LC002218 - Page 3 of 3 |