AN ACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- RESTRAINT OF JUVENILES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Bissaillon and 4 co-sponsors

Limits and requires least-restrictive physical restraints for juveniles in transport and court, with grounds-based use and annual non-identifying reporting.

05/15/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/19/2026)

Overview

SB 2941, introduced in the 2026 Rhode Island General Assembly, would limit and regulate the use of physical restraints on juveniles during transport to and from court, during transport to facilities outside the Rhode Island Training School for Youth, and during court appearances. The bill emphasizes safety and escape-risk determinations, requires use of the least restrictive restraints, and establishes annual reporting to the General Assembly on restraint usage.

Purpose and Intent

Reduce or prohibit the routine use of physical restraints on juveniles in judicial and transport settings.

Ensure restraints are used only when necessary to address immediate safety or escape risks.

Increase transparency through annual reporting detailing when restraints were used and the grounds for their use, without disclosing identifying information.

Key Provisions

Section 14-1-72 (Restraint of juveniles):

Prohibits handcuffs, shackles, chains, irons, or other restraints on juveniles except as allowed under the section.
Transportation restraints:
May only be used if there is an immediate and credible risk of escape that cannot be mitigated by less restrictive means, or if the juvenile poses a threat to their own safety or others.
If restraints are used, the transporting sheriff must submit a grounds-based report to the director of the Department of Public Safety within 5 days.
Court appearance restraints:
May only be used if the court finds on the record that restraints are necessary due to escape risk, safety concerns, or to maintain order and security in the courtroom.
The court must submit an annual report to the General Assembly in January detailing the number of juveniles restrained and the grounds, excluding identifying information.
Least restrictive restraint: When restraints are deemed necessary, the court or sheriff must employ the least restrictive option that satisfies legitimate security needs.

Section 2 (Effective Date): The act takes effect upon passage.

Affected Parties and Entities

Juveniles involved in delinquency or dependent proceedings in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Department of Public Safety (reporting to the director by sheriffs).

Rhode Island courts handling juvenile cases (for on-record findings and courtroom restraint decisions).

The General Assembly (receives annual, non-identifying statistical reports).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Reporting:

Transportation restraints: Sheriff reports grounds within 5 days to the director of Public Safety.
Annual reporting: The department and the court system must file an annual report with the General Assembly each January, outlining restraint usage and justification (no identifying information allowed).

Effective date: Immediate upon passage.

Potential Impact

Promotes non-restrictive handling of juveniles during transport and court proceedings.

Increases accountability and data collection on restraint use.

Potentially reduces instances of physical restraint by requiring risk-based justifications and least-restrictive options.

Enhances transparency while safeguarding juvenile privacy in public reporting.