Rhode Island State Senate Passes Bill To Redefine Offenses

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island state Senate passed a bill to redefine felonies, misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors.

The proposed legislation was sponsored by state Sen. Jonathon Acosta, D-Central Falls and Pawtucket.

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The bill "mirrors legislation the Senate has approved during the 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 sessions, is an effort to reform the state’s criminal justice system by focusing on easing pressures on the correctional system and promoting diversion and rehabilitation while increasing public safety," according to a media release.

“As we continue to recognize the injustices enshrined throughout our judicial system that have had detrimental impacts predominantly on residents of color or limited socio-economic status, this bill will help correct an unintentional overlap between federal immigration law and Rhode Island General Laws on misdemeanors,” Acosta said in the release.

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“This bill is even more important now due to the deplorable rhetoric and actions coming out of Washington with the current administration," Acosta said.

"The main opposition to this bill over the past five years has been the vague suggestion that it might have unintended consequences and shield perpetrators of egregious crimes from the most severe immigration consequences," he said. "After countless hours of research, I can firmly say that this is not the case and it will not protect perpetrators of the most heinous crimes from punishment. Updating these outdated definitions will help alleviate persistent judicial injustices while also saving the taxpayers money and easing pressures on the correctional system."

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The bill would redefine a felony as “any criminal offense which at any given time may be punished by imprisonment for a term of more than one year,” according to the release.

A misdemeanor would be defined as “any criminal offense which may be punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than six months and not exceeding 364 days, or solely by a fine of more than $1,000,” the release said.

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A petty misdemeanor would be “any criminal offense which may be punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or solely by a fine of more than $500, or both, and not more than $1,000,” according to the release.

Acosta noted "that this change in the definition of a misdemeanor would only prevent non-deportation eligible offenses from turning into aggravated felonies under immigration law," the release said.

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