H 8293

2026 -- H 8293
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 LC005616
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  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST
  Introduced By: Representatives Craven, O'Brien, Shanley, Noret, and Read
  Date Introduced: March 13, 2026
  Referred To: House Judiciary
 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Chapter 12-7 of the General Laws entitled "Arrest" is hereby amended by
2 adding thereto the following section:
312-7-1.1. Detention by university or college security.
4(a) The governing board of any private state-charted institution of higher education which
5 maintains a campus or other real property for educational purposes may establish a security, public
6 safety office, or similar department, which employs or contracts with special police officers, public
7 safety officers, security personnel or similar individuals. The appointment of special police officers,
8 and the powers granted to those individuals shall be governed by chapter 2.1 of title 12. If so
9 appointed by an institution, other duly trained members of such a department, including non-sworn
10 public safety officers and security guards may, without a warrant, detain any person for any
11 criminal offense, whenever the public safety officer or security guard has reasonable grounds to
12 believe that an offense has been committed within the jurisdiction of that public safety officer or
13 security guard and the officer or guard has reason to believe that the person being detained, is
14 responsible for the commission of said criminal offense.
15(b) Any public safety officer or security guard that detains any individual for the suspected
16 commission of a criminal offense shall immediately request assistance from either the state police
17 or the local police department having jurisdiction over the private college or university and shall
18 not detain any person beyond a reasonable period of not greater than thirty (30) minutes, while
19 waiting for state or local police assistance.
1(c) All public safety officers and security guards employed by any private college or
2 university subject to this section shall be trained in the proper use of restraint devices and shall
3 abide by locally or nationally recognized use of force policies.
4SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST
  ***
1This act would permit non-sworn public safety officers and security guards at private
2 colleges and universities, to detain individuals for no longer than thirty (30) minutes, within the
3 campus jurisdiction, when the officer or guard has reasonable grounds to believe that the person
4 has committed a criminal offense.
5This act would take effect upon passage.
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