Rhode Island § 12-29-6 - Domestic Violence Prevention Act

§ 12-29-6. Training.

(a) The curriculum for new law enforcement officers presented at the Providence police academy, the state police academy, and the municipal police academy shall include at least eight (8) hours of training on domestic violence issues. That training shall stress the enforcement of criminal law in domestic violence cases and shall include:

(1) The nature, extent, and causes of domestic violence;

(2) Legal rights of and remedies available to victims of domestic violence;

(3) Services and facilities available to victims and batterers;

(4) Legal duties imposed on police officers to make arrests and to offer protection and assistance; and

(5) Techniques for handling incidents of domestic violence that minimize the likelihood of injury to the officer and promote the safety of the victim.

(b) Each law enforcement agency shall provide four (4) hours of in-service training to its officers on issues of domestic violence. This training shall stress the enforcement of criminal law in domestic violence cases and shall include:

(1) The nature, extent and causes of domestic violence;

(2) Legal rights of and remedies available to victims of domestic violence;

(3) Services and facilities available to victims and batterers;

(4) Legal duties imposed on police officers to make arrests and to offer protection and assistance; and

(5) Techniques for handling incidents of domestic violence that minimize the likelihood of injury to the officer and promote the safety of the victim.

(c) There is established within the court system a domestic violence training and monitoring unit, whose responsibilities shall include:

(1) Development of curricula for recruit and in-service training of law enforcement personnel;

(2) Delivery of that curricula at in-service trainings and at the academies;

(3) Development and delivery of training for medical providers concerning the requirements of this section;

(4) Development and delivery of training for probation officers in screening abusers for appropriate counseling; and

(5) Development of forms, as required in §§ 12-29-8 and 12-29-9, and development of any other assessment tools that are necessary to monitor the implementation of this chapter.

(d) The administrative office of the supreme court shall establish an ongoing training program for judges, court personnel, bail commissioners, and clerks to inform them of the policies and procedures of this chapter.