Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7037: AN ACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT (Prohibits handcuffing children twelve (12)
Status: Failed, April 16, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT (Prohibits handcuffing children twelve (12) or under at initial police contact unless needed for public safety or if the child is using or threatening physical force against an officer.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 9, 2026:
2026 -- H 7037 ======== LC003268 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Donovan, Spears, Knight, Shallcross Smith, Kislak, Speakman, Roberts, Hopkins, and Alzate Date Introduced: January 09, 2026 Referred To: House Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Sections 14-1-25 and 14-1-26.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 14-1 entitled "Proceedings in Family Court" are hereby amended to read as follows: 14-1-25. Arrest of juveniles without warrant. (a) Any officer authorized to make an arrest for any criminal offense may take into custody without a warrant any child believed to be delinquent or wayward within that officer's jurisdiction, but in no case shall a child be detained in custody longer than twenty-four (24) hours without being referred to the family court for consideration. (b) Beginning at the point of initial contact with a police officer, no preadjudicated child known by the police officer to be twelve (12) years of age or under may be restrained using handcuffs, except when necessary for purposes of public safety or because the child is using or threatening to use physical force on a police officer who is engaging with such child. (c) No child twelve (12) years of age …
Sponsors
- Julie Casimiro (D, HD-031) · primary sponsor
- Susan Donovan (D, HD-069)
- Tina Spears (D, HD-036)
- Jason Knight (D, HD-067)
- Ann Shallcross Smith, Mary (D, HD-046)
- Rebecca Kislak (D, HD-004)
- June Speakman (D, HD-068)
- Sherry Roberts (R)
- Marie Hopkins (R, HD-021)
- Karen Alzate (D, HD-060)
Latest actions
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
Subjects: DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Common questions
- What is H7037?
- H7037 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT (Prohibits handcuffing children twelve (12) .
- What does H7037 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT (Prohibits handcuffing children twelve (12) or under at initial police contact unless needed for public safety or if the child is using or threatening physical force against an officer.)
- What is the status of H7037?
- Failed as of April 16, 2026. Latest action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study (April 16, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7037?
- Julie Casimiro (D, HD-031), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7037?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7037.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.