Rhode Island 2022 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H7693

Introduced
3/2/22  
Refer
3/2/22  
Report Pass
6/9/22  
Engrossed
6/15/22  

Caption

Indictments, Informations And Complaints

Impact

The passing of HB 7693 will mean significant shifts in how certain crimes are prosecuted in Rhode Island. By removing the statute of limitations for specified offenses, the law allows law enforcement and prosecutors to pursue cases that might otherwise have been dismissed due to the elapsed time since the crime occurred. This move is expected to empower victims who might have stayed silent due to the fear of outdated legal timeframes or the feeling that their cases were hopeless due to the passage of time.

Summary

House Bill 7693 addresses critical changes in criminal procedure regarding indictments, informations, and complaints by amending the statute of limitations for several serious offenses. The bill specifically eliminates the statute of limitations for heinous crimes such as homicide, treason, and various degrees of sexual assault, including second-degree sexual assault. This legislative change aims to enhance accountability for these serious offenses, as prosecuting these crimes may become viable regardless of when they occurred, thus reinforcing public safety and justice for victims.

Contention

While this legislation has garnered support for its protective measures, it is not without contention. Critics may argue that the elimination of the statute of limitations could lead to challenges regarding fair trials, as evidence might become less reliable over time. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the implications for cases with uncertainties in memories or available evidence due to the significant time-lapse between the crime and prosecution. Still, proponents maintain that the terms of justice should not be bound by arbitrary time limits, especially for serious offenses that can have lifelong impacts on victims.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

RI S0565

Provides for a 10 year statute of limitations for the violation of second degree sexual assault.

RI S2297

Provides for a 10 year statute of limitations for the violation of second degree sexual assault.

RI H8086

Provides that the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault shall be 10 years from the date of the offense, or, in the case of a victim who is under the age of 18, ten years from the victim’s eighteenth birthday, whichever is later.

RI H6133

Provides that the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault shall be 10 years from the date of the offense, or, in the case of a victim who is under the age of 18, ten years from the victim’s eighteenth birthday, whichever is later.

RI S3105

Provides that the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault shall be 10 years from the date of the offense, or, in the case of a victim who is under the age of 18, ten years from the victim’s eighteenth birthday, whichever is later.

RI A07215

Establishes the false reporting survivors act which establishes the crimes of aggravated falsely reporting an incident in the first, second, and third degrees when a person commits the crime of falsely reporting an incident in the first, second, or third degree and such person intended to harass, annoy, threaten, or alarm another person because of a belief or perception regarding a person's race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or ethnicity; authorizes officers to arrest persons believed to have committed falsely reporting an incident without first obtaining a warrant; includes such falsely reporting as a hate crime; authorizes the law enforcement misconduct investigative office to receive and investigate complaints alleging falsely reporting an incident; establishes databases of law enforcement officers and persons convicted of falsely reporting; requires notifying persons of the termination of certain criminal actions or proceedings; relates to the statute of limitations for filing an action relating to falsely reporting.

RI HB4755

Adding Aggravated Vehicular Homicide to the list of qualifying offenses

RI A09127

Includes aggravated threat of mass harm, making a threat of mass harm, aggravated harassment in the second degree, harassment in the first degree, menacing in the third degree, menacing in the second degree, menacing in the first degree, and aggravated harassment in the first degree in being eligible for bail; makes aggravated threat of mass harm and making a threat of mass harm eligible to be considered hate crimes; increases the penalties for aggravated threat of mass harm and making a threat of mass harm.

RI A11086

Establishes the crime of aggravated disorderly conduct; designates such crime as a specified offense for the purposes of hate crimes.

RI S08446

Relates to human trafficking offenses and the classification of certain trafficking offenses; includes new offenses in existing provisions of law relating to registration, procedure, affirmative defenses, bail, loss of certain licenses, recovery by victims for trafficking offenses and definitions (Part A); requires the posting of signs at schools and the inclusion of human trafficking education in the driver's education course; requires the posting of signs relating to human trafficking in tattoo and body piercing studios and certain parks; requires education in human trafficking for persons working in nail specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics and cosmetology (Part B).

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.