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Rhode Island State law
State law — Rhode Island
Offences by family
Against the person
Assault (aggravated) Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Felony assault (§ 11-5-2(a)) — dangerous weapon, acid/dangerous substance, or fire, resulting in bodily injury or no injury Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–6 years
- Fine
- No fine specified in the quoted text
Felony assault (§ 11-5-2(a)) — resulting in serious bodily injury Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–20 years
- Fine
- No fine specified in the quoted text
'Serious bodily injury' includes substantial risk of death, protracted loss/impairment, serious permanent disfigurement, and termination of a pregnancy.
Assault with a dangerous weapon in a dwelling house with intent to rob or murder (§ 11-5-4) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 10 years–life
- Fine
- No fine specified in the quoted text
The current § 11-5-2 splits felony assault into a 6-year tier (dangerous weapon / acid / fire, bodily injury or none) and a 20-year tier (serious bodily injury); older mirrors quote a flat 20-year maximum for all felony assault and are superseded.
Assault (simple) Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Simple assault or battery (§ 11-5-3(a)) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–1 year
- Fine
- $0–$1,000
Where the Domestic Violence Prevention Act applies, § 12-29-5 adds mandatory batterer's-intervention, a $125 assessment and repeat-offence terms (see Domestic violence entry).
Domestic violence Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Misdemeanour offence involving domestic violence — first violation (e.g. simple assault § 11-5-3) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–1 year
- Fine
- $0–$1,000 (plus $125 DV assessment)
Plus mandatory batterer's-intervention programme.
Misdemeanour offence involving domestic violence — second violation (§ 12-29-5(c)(1)(i)) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 10 days–1 year (non-suspendable)
- Fine
- No additional fine specified in § 12-29-5(c)
In addition to the underlying offence's sentence.
Misdemeanour offence involving domestic violence — third or subsequent violation (§ 12-29-5(c)(1)(ii)) — deemed a felony Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 1–10 years (non-suspendable)
- Fine
- No additional fine specified in § 12-29-5(c)
In addition to the underlying offence's sentence.
Domestic assault by strangulation (§ 11-5-2.3) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–10 years
- Fine
- No fine specified in the quoted text
Knowingly and intentionally impeding normal breathing or circulation by pressure on the throat/neck or blocking nose/mouth, on a family or household member.
§ 12-29-5 adds to (not instead of) the underlying offence's sentence: mandatory batterer's-intervention programme (at the defendant's expense), a $125 assessment, firearm-surrender determination, and the repeat-offence terms below, which cannot be suspended. 'Domestic violence' under § 12-29-2 covers family/household members and substantive dating relationships.
Homicide — manslaughter Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Manslaughter (§ 11-23-3(a)) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–30 years
- Fine
- No fine specified in the quoted text
Domestic-violence cases also attract § 12-29-5 dispositions.
A secondary felony-sentencing summary attributed a $20,000 fine to manslaughter; the quoted § 11-23-3 text specifies imprisonment only, so no fine is shown here — re-check the full section text.
Homicide — murder Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Murder in the first degree (§ 11-23-2) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- No fine specified
Willful, deliberate, malicious, premeditated killing (including poison and lying in wait) and felony murder under § 11-23-1.
Murder in the first degree — enumerated aggravated form (§ 11-23-2) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- Life imprisonment without parole eligibility
- Fine
- No fine specified
Life without parole only where the court so orders under ch. 19.2 of Title 12 for an enumerated aggravator.
Murder in the second degree (§ 11-23-2) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 10 years–life
- Fine
- No fine specified
All other murder with malice aforethought.
Rhode Island has no death penalty. First-degree murder is punished by life imprisonment; only the enumerated aggravated forms (murder during another capital offence/felony, torture, murder for hire, murder of specified officials, murder in confinement, drug-distribution felony murder, mass-risk killing) may additionally be ordered to be served without parole eligibility.
Sexual offences
Sexual assault / rape Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Sexual assault 1st degree (§ 11-37-2, penalty § 11-37-3) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 10 years–life
- Fine
- No fine specified
Sexual penetration by force/coercion, against a mentally incapacitated/disabled or physically helpless victim, by surprise/concealment, or under guise of medical treatment.
Assault with intent to commit 1st-degree sexual assault Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 3–20 years
- Fine
- No fine specified
Per FindLaw summary — re-check against official text.
Sexual assault 2nd degree (§ 11-37-4, penalty § 11-37-5) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 3–15 years
- Fine
- No fine specified
Sexual contact (not penetration) under the same circumstances as 1st degree.
Sexual assault 3rd degree (§ 11-37-6, penalty § 11-37-7) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–5 years
- Fine
- No fine specified
Person over 18 engaging in sexual penetration with a person over 14 and under 16, or with a 14–17-year-old while in a position of authority.
No fine is specified in the quoted penalty sections (§§ 11-37-3, 11-37-5, 11-37-7). Child-molestation sexual assault is a separate offence series with its own penalties and is not tiered here.
Property
Burglary Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Burglary (§ 11-8-1) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 5 years–life
- Fine
- No fine specified in the sources quoted
Breaking and entering a dwelling at night with intent to commit murder, rape, robbery or larceny (or another felony). Range per secondary summary — re-check.
Unlawful breaking and entering of a dwelling house (§ 11-8-2) — first conviction Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 2–10 years
- Fine
- $0–$10,000 (second and subsequent convictions)
Restitution and/or up to 500 hours of public community restitution are mandatory and additional.
Same (§ 11-8-2) — second or subsequent conviction Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 4–15 years
- Fine
- $0–$10,000
Breaking and entering of a dwelling when a resident is on the premises (§ 11-8-2.2) — repeat offence Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 1–10 years
- Fine
- $0–$5,000
No suspension, deferment or probation; restitution mandatory.
§ 11-8-1's '5 years to life' range is per a secondary felony-sentencing summary; the § 11-8-1 statute text itself was not quoted in session — re-check against official text.
Robbery Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Robbery 1st degree (§ 11-39-1(a)) — dangerous weapon, victim injured, or victim severely impaired/elderly Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 10 years–life
- Fine
- $0–$15,000
'Elderly person' means 60 or older.
Robbery 2nd degree (§ 11-39-1(b)) — no weapon, no injury, victim neither severely impaired nor elderly Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 5–30 years
- Fine
- $0–$10,000
Carjacking 1st degree (§ 11-39-2(a)) — seizure of a motor vehicle with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 10 years–life
- Fine
- $0–$15,000
Carjacking 2nd degree (§ 11-39-2(b)) — seizure by force or threat of force Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 5–30 years
- Fine
- $0–$10,000
§ 11-39-2 (carjacking) mirrors § 11-39-1's ranges and adds a rule that a carjacker is not parole-eligible until half the sentence is served; the court may depart below the 10-year minimum only on substantial and compelling circumstances stated on the record.
Theft Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Larceny — value $1,500 or less Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–1 year
- Fine
- $0–$500
Larceny — value over $1,500 and under $5,000 Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–3 years
- Fine
- $0–$1,500
Larceny — value over $5,000 and under $10,000 Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–6 years
- Fine
- $0–$3,000
Larceny — value over $10,000, or a firearm regardless of value Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–10 years
- Fine
- $0–$5,000
Also applies where the property was knowingly obtained from a person under 18 (§ 11-41-2).
Larceny from the person (§ 11-41-7) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 1–10 years
- Fine
- No fine specified in the quoted text
Stealing from the person of another, regardless of value.
§ 11-41-5 grades by value with gaps at the exact boundary figures ('exceeds $1,500 and is less than $5,000') — a taking of exactly $1,500 / $5,000 / $10,000 is not clearly assigned by the quoted text; re-check boundary handling against official text. § 11-41-3 (embezzlement by a fiduciary) is excluded from § 11-41-5.
Vandalism / criminal damage Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Vandalism — wilful and malicious/mischievous injury, destruction, defacement or obstruction of another's property (misdemeanour) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–1 year
- Fine
- $0–$1,000 (plus restitution)
Up to 100 hours of public community restitution for a first offence, up to 200 hours for a second or subsequent offence; includes defacement of government property.
A 2003 bill proposed a felony tier for damage over $5,000 (up to 3 years / $5,000), but the current § 11-44-1 text quoted in session contains no such tier — do not use the 2003 bill figures as law. Specific-damage offences elsewhere in ch. 11-44 carry their own penalties.
Fraud & financial
Fraud Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
False pretences — value $1,500 or less Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–1 year
- Fine
- $0–$500
False pretences — value over $1,500 and under $5,000 Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–3 years
- Fine
- $0–$1,500
False pretences — value over $5,000 and under $10,000 Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–6 years
- Fine
- $0–$3,000
False pretences — value over $10,000, or a firearm regardless of value Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–10 years
- Fine
- $0–$5,000
Fraud-graded larceny uses the same value tiers as theft (see Theft entry). Elder-exploitation (§ 11-68-2) and false-financial-statement offences (§ 11-18-6) carry their own penalties and are not tiered here.
Drugs
Drug possession Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Possession — 10 g or less of a Schedule I–V substance (except marijuana and buprenorphine) — misdemeanour Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–2 years
- Fine
- $0–$500
Weight-based tier introduced in 2021.
Possession — more than 10 g but less than 1 oz of a Schedule I–V substance (except marijuana and buprenorphine) — felony Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–3 years
- Fine
- $0–$5,000
Possession — more than 2 oz of marijuana (or equivalent concentrate) — misdemeanour Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–1 year
- Fine
- $0–$500
Excludes possession inside one's own primary residence within the authorised amounts; 25+ live plants is a felony — see penaltyNote.
Possession — more than 10 oz of marijuana/concentrate within one's personal residence — misdemeanour Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–1 year
- Fine
- $200–$500
Rhode Island reclassified simple possession by weight in 2021: older sources quoting a flat 0–3 years / $500–$5,000 for any schedule are superseded. The tiers below are the weight-based scheme. Adult possession of up to 1 oz of marijuana is a civil offence ($150 penalty + forfeiture), not a crime.
Drug trafficking / sale Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Manufacture / delivery / possession with intent — Schedule I or II (except marijuana), non-drug-addicted person (§ 21-28-4.01(a)(2)) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 years–life
- Fine
- $10,000–$500,000
Same — Schedule I or II, other persons (§ 21-28-4.01(a)(4)(i)) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–30 years
- Fine
- $3,000–$100,000
Includes drug-addicted persons.
Schedule III or IV (§ 21-28-4.01(a)(4)(ii)) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–20 years
- Fine
- $0–$40,000
Schedule III(d) is capped at 0–5 years / $0–$20,000.
Schedule V (§ 21-28-4.01(a)(4)(iii)) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–1 year
- Fine
- $0–$10,000
The (a)(2) 'up to life' tier applies only to a person who is NOT a drug-addicted person (as defined in § 21-28-1.02) dealing in Schedule I/II substances other than marijuana; drug-addicted persons fall under (a)(4). Delivery that is the proximate cause of death removes the drug-addicted-person defence.
Weapons
Weapons offences Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Carrying a pistol/revolver without a licence, or possessing a machine gun (§ 11-47-8(a)) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 1–10 years
- Fine
- $0–$10,000
Also covers carrying in a vehicle or on the person; out-of-state licence holders merely transporting through the state are exempt.
Possession of a sawed-off shotgun or sawed-off rifle (§ 11-47-8(b)) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–10 years
- Fine
- $0–$5,000
Possession of a firearm while delivering / possessing with intent to deliver / manufacturing a controlled substance (§ 11-47-8(c)) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 2–20 years (consecutive)
- Fine
- No fine specified in the quoted text
Consecutive to the drug sentence; a carry licence is no defence.
§ 11-47-5 (possession by a prohibited person, 2–10 years per a secondary summary) was not quoted in session and is not tiered here. Except for a first conviction under § 11-47-8(a), suspension/deferment/probation are unavailable.
Traffic & transport
DUI / drink driving Possibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
First violation — BAC 0.08% to under 0.10%, or blood presence of a scheduled controlled substance Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–1 year (and/or 10–60 hours community restitution)
- Fine
- $100–$300
Licence suspension 30–180 days; DUI course required.
First violation — BAC 0.10% to under 0.15% Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–1 year (and/or 10–60 hours community restitution)
- Fine
- $100–$400
Licence suspension 3–12 months per secondary summaries.
First violation — BAC 0.15% or more Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0–1 year (and/or 20–60 hours community restitution)
- Fine
- $500
Licence suspension 3–18 months per secondary summaries; the $500 figure is per a secondary summary — re-check whether it is fixed or a minimum.
Second violation within 5 years Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 10 days–1 year
- Fine
- $400
Fine figure per secondary penalty table — re-check against official text; licence suspension 1–2 years.
Third violation within 5 years (felony) Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 1–3 years
- Fine
- $400
Fine figure per secondary penalty table — re-check against official text; licence suspension 2–3 years.
DUI resulting in death (§ 31-27-2.2) — first offence Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 5–15 years
- Fine
- No fine specified in the sources quoted
Range per secondary felony-sentencing summary — re-check against official text.
Only DUI convictions within the last 5 years count as priors. The 2nd- and 3rd-offence fine figures below are shown as a flat $400 per a secondary penalty table; re-check § 31-27-2(d) for whether $400 is a fixed fine or a minimum. A $500 highway assessment applies in addition to fines. DUI causing death (§ 31-27-2.2) is a separate felony.
Cyber & digital
Cybercrime / hacking
See the United States (central) entry for the penalty range →