2026 -- S 2398

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LC004357

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE

     

     Introduced By: Senators Dimitri, Famiglietti, Patalano, Appollonio, Tikoian, Thompson,
Burke, Rogers, and Paolino

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 11-32-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-32 entitled "Obstructing

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Justice" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     11-32-2. False report of crime.

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     (a) Every person who shall knowingly make or cause to be made a false statement of a

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crime, either oral or written, with intent that it be relied upon by a police officer of any city or town

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or by any member of the state police, shall be deemed guilty of obstructing an officer and shall be

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imprisoned not exceeding one year and/or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), and

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shall in addition to this imprisonment and/or fine be ordered to make restitution to the person falsely

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accused of a crime for any damage which the person sustained as a result of the false complaint.

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     (b) Every person who shall knowingly make or cause to be made a false statement of a

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crime that carries a sentence of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years nor more than twenty

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(20) years, either oral or written, with intent that it be relied upon by a police officer of any city or

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town or by any member of the state police, shall be deemed guilty of a felony and, upon conviction,

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shall be imprisoned not less than one year nor more than five (5) years.

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     (c) Every person who shall knowingly make or cause to be made a false statement of a

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crime that carries a sentence of imprisonment of not less than twenty (20) years, either oral or

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written, with intent that it be relied upon by a police officer of any city or town or by any member

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of the state police, shall be deemed guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned not

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less than five (5) years nor more than twenty (20) years.

 

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE

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     This act would make it a felony to file a false police report of a crime carrying a sentence

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of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years nor more than twenty (20) years, and would carry a

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sentence of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than five (5) years for filing such false

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report. This act would further make it a felony to file a false police report of a crime carrying a

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sentence of imprisonment of twenty (20) years or more, and would carry a sentence of

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imprisonment of not less than five (5) years nor more than twenty (20) years for filing such false

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report.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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