Prohibits individuals from conveying items to or from the training school for youth without prior consent by the executive director of the division of youth development at the department of children, youth and families.
Summary
H5437 amends Rhode Island’s law on conveying unauthorized articles to and from correctional institutions by expressly extending the existing prohibition to the Training School for Youth and by tying consent authority to the executive director of the Division of Youth Development at the Department of Children, Youth and Families. The bill makes it unlawful to bring items into or remove items from the adult correctional institutions or the training school without prior consent from the appropriate agency head.
The bill also specifically prohibits conveying drugs, tobacco, or any item that could be used as a weapon to a prisoner or a youth resident without consent. It retains the current criminal penalties for violations: up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. The measure defines “prisoner” and “resident” for these purposes and excludes persons on home confinement from those definitions.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would update Rhode Island General Laws § 11-25-14 to clarify and broaden the application of contraband restrictions in juvenile custody settings, especially at the Training School for Youth. It would affect individuals who attempt to bring items into or remove items from adult correctional facilities or youth detention facilities, and it would give the Division of Youth Development explicit consent authority for the youth facility. The bill does not create new penalty levels, but it reinforces existing felony-level sanctions for contraband-related conduct.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the overall sentiment appears procedural and protective rather than controversial. The measure is framed as a public safety and institutional security update, with an emphasis on preventing contraband from entering youth and adult correctional settings. No opposing arguments, amendments, or recorded votes are available in the provided materials.
Contention
The main policy issue is the scope of contraband enforcement at the Training School for Youth and the inclusion of drugs, tobacco, and potential weapons under the prohibition. Another point of possible concern is the severity of the existing penalties, which remain substantial even though the bill is primarily clarifying who must consent and where the rule applies. Because there are no transcripts or votes, no specific legislators, agencies, or stakeholder groups are identified as opposing or supporting the measure in the available record.