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HB 8502

AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- VICTIM PROXIMITY PROTECTION ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jon Brien and 5 co-sponsors

HB 8502 bans offenders near victims, enforces no-contact and GPS monitoring, requires housing approval, and speeds victim notification to boost proximity protections.

05/14/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 8502

Summary: HB 8502 (2026) – Victim Proximity Protection Act (Rhode Island)

A. Purpose and intent
- Establishes geographic restrictions and enhanced protections for victims of sexual offenses.
- Aims to prevent offenders from living near victims and to prohibit any direct or indirect contact with victims during supervised release.

B. Key provisions and changes

1) Tightened residence proximity rules (11-37.4-4)
- General rule: Sentencing court must impose an exclusion zone prohibiting the offender from residing within:
- 1,000 feet of the victim’s residence, workplace, or school for all offenders except level 3 sex offenders.
- 1,000 feet measured from the offender’s residence boundary to the victim-related location’s boundary.
- Level 3 sex offenders: Exclusion zone expanded to 1 mile from the victim’s residence, workplace, or school.
- Court may expand the exclusion zone up to 3 miles after considering:
- Offense severity, risk level, victim vulnerability, and victim impact statements.
- Any expansion must be in writing and justified; not intended to exclude entire communities.
- Automatic no-contact orders: Separate prohibition on direct or indirect contact with the victim, regardless of purpose or channel (in-person, phone, text, email, third-party, etc.).

2) Enforcement during release (11-37.4-5)
- Level 2 and Level 3 offenders are subject to GPS monitoring for the duration of parole, probation, or supervised release.
- Willful violations of exclusion zones or no-contact orders can lead to up to 5 years in prison.

3) Housing approvals (11-37.4-6)
- Before seeking housing after conviction, offenders must obtain housing approval from the supervising officer.
- A denial of housing approval by the supervising officer automatically prevents the offender from moving to the proposed address.

4) Victim notification (11-37.4-7)
- Victims must be notified within 48 hours of the offender’s release from incarceration.
- Victims must be informed of the offender’s approved address/location.

5) Definitions (11-37.4-3)
- Exclusion zone: Geographic area a convicted offender may be barred from during supervised release.
- Offender: Person convicted of a Rhode Island sexual offense (or another state) who must register as a sex offender.
- Residence: Any place where the offender lives for more than 3 consecutive days or 10 cumulative days in a year.
- Victim: The individual against whom the offense was committed.

C. Scope and applicability
- Applies to offenders convicted of sexual offenses who are subject to supervision (parole, probation, or other supervised release) in Rhode Island.
- Requires notices to offenders and imposes additional restrictions beyond existing Chapter 37.1 (general sex offender supervision provisions).

D. Procedural/timeline aspects

  • Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.
  • Appeals: Challenging exclusion zone impositions or expansions must follow the appellate procedures in Chapter 37.1.

E. Potential impact

  • Victim safety: Strengthens geographic and contact restrictions to reduce proximity-based risk to victims.
  • offender monitoring: Increased use of GPS monitoring for Level 2 and Level 3 offenders.
  • Housing and relocation: Adds a formal process to approve housing and prevent residence near victims, potentially limiting housing options for some offenders.
  • Enforcement and penalties: Violations of exclusion zones or no-contact orders carry substantial penalties (up to 5 years).

F. Who is affected

  • Offenders convicted of sexual offenses who are under parole, probation, or supervised release.
  • Victims of offenses, who gain additional notification and proximity protections.
  • Probation/parole officers and supervising authorities responsible for housing approvals and GPS monitoring.
  • Court systems that would impose exclusion zones and enforce no-contact and GPS provisions.

Overall, HB 8502 establishes a Victim Proximity Protection framework designed to shield victims by restricting where offenders can live, enhancing monitoring, and ensuring victims are informed about offenders’ release.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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