The following is a list of Rhode Island General Laws and state agency practices that may help to prevent youth violence, compiled by the STOP It! Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, in collaboration with the Child and Adolescent Violence Prevention Advisory Committee. Please note that this is not an extensive list.

For more information on general laws broadly impacting violence and injury prevention please visit – http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/

Policy and Practices:	Current RI Policies and Practices in Place
Restricting availability/access to weapons	Title: Sale, Transfer, or Delivery of firearms to minors General Law: Chapter 11-47 About: (a) It shall be unlawful within this state for any person to sell, transfer, give, convey, or cause to be sold, transferred, given or conveyed any firearm to any person under eighteen (18) years of age, when the person knows or has reason to know that the recipient is under eighteen (18) years of age, except for the limited purposes set forth in §§ 11-47-33 and 11-47-34 and with the prior approval or consent of the parent or legal guardian of the minor. (b) Every person violating this section shall be punished, upon conviction, by imprisonment for not less than ten (10) years and not more than twenty (20) years. The prohibitions of this section shall not apply to any federally and state licensed retail dealer who makes reasonable efforts to verify a purchaser's age and shall not apply to the sale of an air rifle, air pistol, "blank gun" or "BB gun."
	Title: Possession of firearms by minors General Law: Chapter 11-47-33 About: (a) It shall be unlawful within this state for any person under eighteen (18) years of age to possess and use any firearm unless he or she shall hold a permit as provided in § 11-47-34, and unless the person is in the presence of a parent or guardian or supervising adult at any regular and recognized camp or rifle range approved by the Rhode Island state police or by the chief of police of the city or town in which the camp or rifle range is located; provided, that this provision shall not apply to minors engaged in lawful hunting activity under the supervision of a parent or guardian or qualified adult, minors participating in Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, ceremonial parade activities, competitive and target shooting, participants in state militia activities and minors participating in a basic firearms education program; provided, further, that a person under eighteen (18) years of age may carry a firearm, unloaded, in a suitable case to and from his or her home and the camp or range and from the camp or range to other camp or range when accompanied by a parent, guardian or supervising adult. (b) For purposes of this section only, "qualified adult" means any person twenty-one (21) years of age or older and permitted by law to possess and use the firearm.
	Title: sale of ammunition to minors General Law: Chapter 11-47-31 About: (a) It shall be unlawful within this state for any person to sell, transfer, give, convey, or cause to be sold, transferred, given or conveyed any ammunition, including any priming charge of powder, propelling charge of powder, or any form of missile or projectile to be ejected from a firearm to any person under eighteen (18) years of age when the person knows or has reason to know that the recipient is under eighteen (18) years of age, except for the limited purposes set forth in §§ 11-47-33 and 11-47-34 and with the prior approval or consent of the parent or legal guardian of the minor. (b) Every person violating this section shall be punished, upon conviction, by imprisonment for a term not to exceed ten (10) years. The prohibitions of this section shall not apply to any federally and state licensed retail dealer who makes reasonable efforts to verify a purchaser's age and shall not apply to the sale of ammunition for an air rifle, air pistol, "blank gun" or "BB gun."
	Title: possession of ammunition by a minor General Law: Chapter 11-47-32 About: Except as provided in § 11-47-33, it shall be unlawful within this state for any person under eighteen (18) years of age to possess and use ammunition, including any priming charge of powder, propelling charge of powder, or any form of missile or projectile to be ejected from a firearm.
Relocation from inner-city to middle income neighborhoods	Title: Affordable Housing Opportunity General Law: Chapter 42-11.2 About: (a) There exists a serious shortage of decent, safe, and sanitary rental housing units that are available at rents affordable to low-income families in Rhode Island. Many families are denied access to decent housing because they are unable to meet the higher cost of rent. Rising housing costs in Rhode Island force low-income families to live in unsafe, substandard units; commit such an unreasonably high percentage of their income for rent that they deprive themselves of the other necessities of life; or, worse, find themselves without housing. The inadequacy in the supply of decent, safe, and sanitary affordable rental housing endangers the public health and jeopardizes the public safety, general welfare, and good of the entire state. (b) Federal housing assistance programs have not been able to meet the need to preserve existing rental units or construct new rental units for occupancy by low-income families. There is a compelling need to provide housing for low-income families in the state of Rhode Island. A rental assistance program is hereby established to be administered by the executive department to help provide low-income families with the opportunity to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing.
	Agency: Rhode Island Housing & Mortgage finance corporation, Sixth Amendment About: The Corporation has determined that there exists a compelling need to provide (i) decent, safe and sanitary housing and assisted living facilities for persons and families of low and moderate income residing in the State of Rhode Island and (ii) long term affordability to the residents of such housing, and to prevent the loss of this State's existing supply of Federally Insured or Assisted Housing units and the displacement of Low Income Persons and Families arising as a result of the conversion of such housing to market rate rental properties and condominiums. The Rental Housing Production and Rehabilitation Program (the "Program") offers financial incentives to Housing Sponsors that preserve, develop, construct, produce or rehabilitate Housing Developments.
Addressing educational needs due to socioeconomic disparities	Title: The RI Student Investment Initiative General Law: 16-7-1 About: (1) The intent of this legislation is to enact a comprehensive state education aid funding program which addresses four (4) fundamental principles: (i) Closing the inequitable resource gaps among school districts and schools; (ii) Closing inequitable gaps in performance and achievement among different groups of students, especially those correlated with poverty, gender, and language background; (iii) Targeting investments to improve student and school performance; and (iv) Establishing a predictable method of distributing state education aid in a manner that addresses the over-reliance on the property tax to finance education.
	Title: Establishment of Charter Schools General Law: Chapter 16-77 About: The purpose of this chapter is to provide an alternative within the public education system by offering opportunities for existing public schools, groups of public school personnel, school districts, and established Rhode Island nonprofit organizations to establish and maintain a public school program according to the terms of its charter.
	Agency: Higher Education Assistance Authority Title: CollegeBound fund 5 and 10 Matching Grant Program About: To establish a matching program to encourage lower income families in Rhode Island to participate in the CollegeBoundfund and save for the educational costs for their children.
	Agency: DCYF Title: Higher Education Opportunity Incentive Grant Program, Policy: 700.0210 About: The Department of Children, Youth and Families actively encourages and supports any youth in the legal custody of the Department who wishes to pursue post secondary education. The Department recognizes that although a youth may possess the academic ability and the interest to seek higher educational goals, he or she may be precluded from doing so because of a lack of financial resources. To afford such youth the opportunity, the General Assembly created the Higher Education Opportunity Incentive Grant Program (RIGL 42-72.8). An eligible youth is able to receive a financial grant to supplement federal, state and institutional scholarships and grants when attending a state college in Rhode Island . Eligibility for these grants is limited to two years of full-time study at the Community College of Rhode Island, or four years at Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island. An eligible youth who completes two years of fulltime study at Community College of Rhode Island can qualify for an additional two years of full-time study at the University of Rhode Island or Rhode Island College.

Enterprise zones	Title: Distressed Areas Economic Revitalization Act General Law: Chapter 42-64.3 About: The general assembly finds and declares: (1) That there are certain distressed areas in this state which are characterized by substantial and persistent levels of unemployment; blighted areas; obsolete, dilapidated, and abandoned industrial and commercial structures; and, as a consequence, continually shrinking tax bases which threaten their very existence; (2) That the numerous programs undertaken by the federal government and the state during the past two (2) decades to stop the deterioration and stimulate economic activity in these urban areas have, in large part, failed; (3) That it is the public policy of this state to undertake an experimental program to stimulate economic revitalization, promote employment opportunities, and encourage business development and expansion in distressed areas.
	Title: Minority Business Enterprise General Law: Chapter 37-14.1 About: The purpose of this chapter is to carry out the state's policy of supporting the fullest possible participation of firms owned and controlled by minorities and women (MBE's) in state funded and state directed public construction programs and projects and in state purchases of goods and services. This includes assisting MBE's throughout the life of contracts in which they participate.
	Title: RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM Agency: Department of Transportation Office of Legal Counsel About: The purpose of these rules is to ensure that Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) certified in the State of Rhode Island have an equitable opportunity to compete for Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) contracts and subcontracts; to ascertain the ability of DBEs and joint-ventures involving DBEs too perform the work for which they wish to contract; to set procedures to monitor DBE performance on RIDOT's contracts; and to set procedures to sanction and/or debar contractors an subcontractors found to have violated State and Federal regulations.
Reducing access to alcohol/drugs for minors	Title: Education, Curriculum General Law: 16-22-12 About: (a) The school committees of the several cities, towns, and school districts shall provide for the incorporation of mandatory instruction of students in grades one through twelve (12) on the effects of alcohol and substance abuse upon the human system in existing health education or other courses. (b) The board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall institute courses of instructions for teachers in the public school system on the effects of alcohol and substance abuse.
	Title: Health education, alcohol, and substance abuse prevention program. General Law: 35-4-18 About: There is hereby created and established a program to be known as the "health education, alcohol, and substance abuse prevention program", which shall be funded annually by the general assembly. All moneys now or hereafter in the health education, alcohol, and substance abuse prevention program are hereby appropriated for the purpose of establishing continuous health education programs dealing primarily in the areas of alcohol and substance abuse for students in grades kindergarten (K) through twelve (12). The department of mental health, retardation, and hospitals and the department of elementary and secondary education are charged with administration of the program for the purposes specified in this section. Independent evaluation of the programs in grades kindergarten (K) through twelve (12) shall be made annually. Funds for evaluation shall emanate from the health education, alcohol, and substance abuse appropriations. Claims against the funds shall be examined, audited, and allowed in the manner now or hereafter provided by law.
	Title: Director's duties regarding health education, alcohol, and substance abuse programs. General Law: 23-1-36 About: The director shall establish health education, alcohol, and substance abuse programs for students in grades kindergarten through twelve (12), in accordance with § 35-4-18. The director shall make an annual report to the governor and the general assembly on the administration of the program.
	Title: RI Liquor Liability Act, Liability for reckless service of liquor General Law: 3-14-7 About: (a) A defendant who recklessly provides liquor to a minor is liable for damages proximately caused by that minor's consumption of the liquor. (b) A defendant who recklessly serves liquor to a visibly intoxicated individual is liable for damages proximately caused by that individual's consumption of the liquor. (c) Service of liquor is reckless if a defendant intentionally serves liquor to an individual when the server knows that the individual being served is a minor or is visibly intoxicated, and the server consciously disregards an obvious and substantial risk that serving liquor to that individual will cause physical harm to the drinker or to others.
	Title: Possession of alcohol by underage persons General Law: 3-8-10 About: Any person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday and has in his or her possession any beverage as defined in this title shall be fined one hundred fifty dollars ($150) to seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) for the first offense, three hundred dollars ($300) to seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) for the second offense, and four hundred fifty dollars ($450) to seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) for the third or subsequent offense. In addition, any person who violates this section may be required to perform community service and shall be subject to a minimum sixty (60) day suspension of his or her driver's license, and upon a second offense may be ordered to undergo a substance abuse assessment by a licensed substance abuse professional.
	Title: Penalty for liquor violations relating to underage persons General Law: 3-8-5 About: Any person who sells or suffers to be sold or delivered any beverage to a person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday either for his or her own use or the use of his or her parents or any other person, or allows any person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday to drink beverages on premises licensed under this title or suffers or allows any persons who have not reached their eighteenth (18th) birthday to sell or serve any beverage on the premises shall for the first offense be subject to a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250); for the second offense, be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500), and for the third and any subsequent offense, be subject to a fine of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750). In the event that there are no offenses in three (3) successive years from the date of the last offense, then the next offense shall be treated as a first offense. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent licensees from hiring any person who has reached his or her eighteenth birthday.
	Title: Creation of the Narcotic Guidance Council General Law: 21-28.1 About: Narcotic guidance councils shall develop a program of community participation regarding control of the use of narcotics at the local level. These councils shall direct themselves toward accomplishing the following: (1) Make immediately available to the community, basic knowledge acquired in the field of drug use especially by youth; (2) Create a climate in which persons seeking assistance in coping with narcotics problems can meet, without embarrassment, with responsible individuals or agencies in a position to render assistance; (3) Authorize persons approved by the council to contact and counsel persons within the community suspected of using narcotics or those persons allegedly having knowledge of that usage; and (4) Cooperate with other narcotic guidance councils and with the state, and federal narcotics commissions and agencies in bringing local and community trouble areas to their attention.
	Title: Sale of drug paraphernalia to a minor General Law: 21-28.5-3 About: Any person eighteen (18) years of age or over who violates § 21-28.5-2 by delivering drug paraphernalia to a person under eighteen (18) years of age shall be subject to a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment not to exceed five (5) years, or both.
	Title: Uniform Controlled Substances Act, distribution to persons under 18 General Law: 21-28-4.07 About: (a) Any person eighteen (18) years of age or over who violates § 21-28-4.01(a) by distributing a controlled substance, excluding marijuana, listed in schedules I and II to a person under eighteen (18) years of age who is at least three (3) years his or her junior shall be imprisoned to a term of not less than fifteen (15) years and may be imprisoned for life, or fined not more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), or both. In all such cases, the justice imposing sentence shall impose a minimum sentence of fifteen (15) years' imprisonment and may only impose a sentence less than that minimum if he or she finds that substantial and compelling circumstances exist which justify imposition of the alternative sentence. The finding may be based upon the character and background of the defendant, the cooperation of the defendant with law enforcement authorities, the nature and circumstances of the offense, and/or the nature and quality of the evidence presented at trial. If a sentence which is less than imprisonment for a term of fifteen (15) years is imposed, the trial justice shall set forth on the record the circumstances, which he or she found as justification for imposition of the lesser sentence.
Expanding access and improving insurance coverage for child school/home based behavioral health services, including substance abuse services.	Title: Medical Assistance (MA) Funded MENTAL HEALTH Services: Client Eligibility and Provider Guidelines Agency: Department of Children, Youth and Families About: The Rhode Island Medicaid State Plan provides for community MENTAL HEALTH services for children who are eligible for Medical Assistance (MA) and enrolled in the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program. Approved providers that comply with federal and state regulations regarding payment and treatment planning and documentation provide clinical community diagnostic and treatment services for eligible clients with MENTAL or emotional disorders.
	Title: CHILD Care Assistance Program Comprehensive CHILD Care Services Agency: Department of Human Services About: The Office of Child Care shall certify Comprehensive Child Care Services Networks (CCCS Networks or Networks) to provide eligible children and their families with high quality early education and a range of social services supporting family stability and child success including Children’s mental health and wellness, including meaningful inclusion and early education for children with disabilities.
	Title: Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) Program Agency: Department of Children, Youth and Families About: The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program, a federally mandated program operated by the state, provides comprehensive HEALTH services to all children under the age of twenty-one (21) who are eligible for Medical Assistance. EPSDT provides for Early prevention care, Periodic EVALUATION of HEALTH Screening for HEALTH defects, Diagnosis of HEALTH problems, and Treatment and continuing care. It is the policy of the Department to enroll all eligible children in the EPSDT program.
Services, support and follow-up for at-risk families	Title: Substance Abuse Treatment Services Policy Agency: Department of Children, Youth and Families About: Provides protocols for funding substance abuse services for youth and families involved with DCYF who experience problematic use of alcohol and other drugs.
	Title: MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION and Counseling Services Agency: Department of Children, Youth and Families About: A mental health evaluation can assist in planning for a child in the care of the Department. Information derived from a mental health evaluation can aid in planning for permanency, establishing eligibility for services, and supporting legal action. The Department provides resources to obtain a psychological evaluation or a clinical assessment which may include a psychiatric evaluation. Mental health counseling is utilized to provide specialized clinical services in the treatment of physically or sexually abused children, physically or sexually abusive parents, emotionally disturbed children, and family problems.
	Title: Delinquent and Dependent Children, Family Court Proceedings General Law: 14-1-32.4 About: If the court finds that a child is delinquent or wayward for any violation of the Rhode Island Controlled Substances Act, chapter 28 of title 21, the court may order the child, his or her parent(s), guardian(s), and/or other lawful custodian(s) to participate in a program of counseling designed to attempt to remedy the conditions which led to the child's coming before the court.
	Title: Comprehensive Emergency SERVICES Agency: Department of Children, Youth and Families About: Comprehensive Emergency SERVICES (CES) is a system of coordinated community-based SERVICES designed to meet emergency needs of children and their families who are experiencing a crisis that threatens to disrupt the FAMILY unit. CES provides a time-limited (60-day) voluntary alternative to placement for families who reside in the targeted regions. This service is provided without regard to income level. CES seeks to maintain children in their own homes with the provision of appropriate SERVICES during crisis situations.
Policies that foster safe school environments	Title: Student discipline codes for harassment, intimidation, or bullying General Law: 16-21-26 About: The board of a school district of a public school shall adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying at school. The policy shall specifically prohibit harassment, intimidation and bullying by students at school and address prevention of an education about such behavior. The policy shall be adopted through a process that includes representation of parents or guardians, school employees, volunteers, pupils, school administrators and community representatives.
Policies that foster safe community environments	Title: Neighborhood crime prevention act General Law: 42-96.1 About: The Act makes funds available for neighborhood crime prevention activities, and is intended to develop and support more positive attitudes among neighborhood residents, foster a stronger sense of neighborhood identity, and encourage an active participation by residents to prevent crime and increase the probability of criminal apprehension.
	Title: Rules and Regulations of the Corporation Applicable to the Neighborhood Revitalization Program Agency: Rhode Island Housing, Mortage & Finance Corp. About: Encourages rental housing production by developing a broad base of support for affordable housing as an integral part of the community. It is a comprehensive community enhancement strategy to compliment and support our extensive rental production programs. NRP’s goal is to establish a plan for affordable housing production and rehabilitation that has the support of community groups, residents, municipal officials and other stakeholders.
	Title: Designation of curfew streets General Law: 11-9-11 About: The police commissioners of any city or town having a police commission, and the chief of police of any other city or town, may designate certain streets in the city or town as curfew streets. No minor under sixteen (16) years of age shall be allowed to loiter on any curfew street after 9 o'clock (9:00) p.m., unless accompanied by some adult person.
	Title: Penalty for loitering on curfew street General Law: 11-9-12 About: Any minor under sixteen (16) years of age, not accompanied by an adult person, who shall loiter on any curfew street after being directed by any police constable to cease loitering, shall be fined not exceeding five dollars ($5.00).