STATE HOUSE – The Senate Committee on Judiciary is scheduled to meet Tuesday, March 21, at the rise of the Senate (sometime after 4:30 p.m.) in room 313 on the third floor of the State House. The committee will hear 25 bills related to criminal justice.

Among others, the committee will hear testimony on the following bills:

• 2023-S 0606 — This bill, introduced by Senate Committee on Judiciary Chairwoman Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown), would require the automatic expungement of records and records of conviction, if the conviction was for a non-violent misdemeanor, five years after completion of the sentence.
• 2023-S 0617 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Jonathon Acosta (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket) would establish the Restrictive Housing Oversight Committee for the purpose of monitoring the use of restrictive housing (solitary confinement), as well as disciplinary and administrative confinement at the department of corrections.
• 2023-S 0646 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Mark P. McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) would prohibit the operation of privately-run detention facilities. Those currently in operation would be permitted to do so until January 1, 2031.
• 2023-S 0406 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence) would require the Department of Corrections to provide free communication services to inmates and juveniles held in residential placement or detention centers and requires that those facilities provide in-person contact visits.
• 2023-S 0402 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Melissa A. Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield), would grant immunity to sex workers if they are victims or witnesses of crime.