H 8061

2026 -- H 8061
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LC005363
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  STATE  OF  RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- JAILS AND PRISONS
  Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Hull, Read, Fascia, J. Brien, Corvese, and Hopkins
  Date Introduced: February 27, 2026
  Referred To: House Judiciary
  (DCYF)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Section 11-25-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-25 entitled "Jails and
2 Prisons" is hereby amended to read as follows:
311-25-14. Conveyance of unauthorized articles to or from institutions Conveyance of
4 unauthorized articles to or from institutions or the training school for youth.
5(a) Every person who shall convey or cause to be conveyed into the adult correctional
6 institutions any article without first obtaining the consent of the director of corrections, or who shall
7 convey from the institutions any article without the consent of the director of corrections, shall be
8 punished, upon conviction, by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, or by a fine of not
9 more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.
10(b) Every person who shall convey or cause to be conveyed to any prisoner any drugs,
11 tobacco or any article that could be used as a weapon, without first obtaining the consent of the
12 director of corrections, may be punished, upon conviction, by imprisonment for not more than ten
13 (10) years, or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.
14(c) For the purposes of subsection (b), “prisoner” includes all persons committed to the
15 adult correctional institution, in the custody of the warden, in the custody of any other officer while
16 outside the confines of the custodial unit, in the custody of the state director of behavioral
17 healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals pursuant to § 40.1-5.3-1, regardless of whether
18 that prisoner is held upon conviction or upon any criminal charge. “Prisoner” shall not include
19 persons on home confinement.
1(d) Every person who shall convey or cause to be conveyed to any resident at the training
2 school for youth, any drugs, tobacco, portable electronic communication device, or any article that
3 could be used as a weapon, without first obtaining the consent of the executive director of the
4 division of youth development at the department of children, youth and families, may be punished,
5 upon conviction, by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, or by a fine of not more than
6 five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.
7(e) For the purposes of subsection (d) of this section, “resident” includes all persons
8 detained at the training school for youth, in the custody of the superintendent of the training school
9 for youth, in the custody of any other juvenile program worker while outside the confines of the
10 custodial unit, or in the custody of the state director of behavioral healthcare, developmental
11 disabilities and hospitals pursuant to § 40.1-5.3-1, regardless of whether that person is held upon
12 adjudication or upon any petition for delinquency or waywardness. “Resident” shall not include
13 persons on home confinement.
14SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- JAILS AND PRISONS
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1This act would prohibit individuals from conveying certain items to or from the training
2 school for youth without prior consent by the executive director of the division of youth
3 development at the department of children, youth and families.
4This act would take effect upon passage.
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