Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4 (2026)

Duration of registration — Frequency of registration

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) Annual registration. Any person required to register under § 11-37.1-3(a)(1) or (2) shall annually register with the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city or town in which the person having the duty to register resides for a period of ten (10) years from the expiration of sentence for the offense and shall verify his or her address with the agency on a quarterly basis for the first two (2) years of the period unless the person has been determined to be a sexually violent predator in accordance with § 11-37.1-6 or unless the person is required to register for the life of that person in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section.

(b) Sexually violent predators. Any person who has been determined to be a sexually violent predator in accordance with the provisions of § 11-37.1-6 shall be required to annually register in person with the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city or town in which the person having the duty to register resides for the life of that person and to verify his or her address on a quarterly basis for the life of that person.

(c) Recidivists and aggravated crime offenders. Any person required to register under § 11-37.1-3 and who has one or more prior convictions for any offense described in § 11-37.1-2 or has been convicted of an aggravated offense as defined in § 11-37.1-2 shall annually register in person with the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city or town in which the person having the duty to register resides for the life of that person and to verify his or her address on a quarterly basis for the life of that person.

(d) Nonresident workers and students. Any nonresident person required to register pursuant to § 11-37.1-3(b)(1) or (2) shall annually register in person with the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city or town in which the person having the duty to register is employed or attends a public or private educational institution for the period of time that the person is employed in Rhode Island or is attending a public or private educational institution in Rhode Island.

(e) Initial registration; Incarcerated individuals. All persons required to register under this chapter who are sentenced to a period of confinement shall perform their initial registration by appearing in person at the local law enforcement agency in the city or town in which the person intends to reside within twenty-four (24) hours of their release from confinement.

(f) Initial registration; Non-incarcerated individuals. All persons required to register under this chapter who are convicted in Rhode Island and who are not sentenced to serve a term of incarceration or confinement shall perform their initial registration by appearing in person at the local law enforcement agency in the city or town in which the person intends to reside within twenty-four (24) hours of being sentenced.

(g) Initial registration; Individuals relocating to Rhode Island. All persons required to register under this chapter who are moving their residence to Rhode Island from another jurisdiction shall perform their initial registration by appearing in person at the local law enforcement agency in the city or town in which the person intends to reside within twenty-four (24) hours of their arrival in Rhode Island.

(h) Initial registration; Nonresident workers and students. All nonresident workers or students who are required to register under this chapter shall perform their initial registration by appearing in person at the local law enforcement agency in the city or town in which the person is employed or is attending a public or private educational institution within twenty-four (24) hours of their first day of their personal attendance at their place of employment or a public or private educational institution.

(i) Tolling provision. Where, during the period in which any person is required to register, a person required to register under this chapter is incarcerated or re-incarcerated for any offense or is civilly committed, the person’s registration requirements shall be tolled during the subsequent incarceration, re-incarceration or commitment.

(j) Juveniles. Any juvenile having the duty to register under subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall be required to annually register in person with the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city or town in which the juvenile having the duty to register resides for fifteen (15) years subsequent to the date of release from confinement or placement in the community or probation for such offense or offenses and to verify his or her address on a quarterly basis for said fifteen (15) years. However, if a juvenile is adjudicated delinquent under § 11-37-8.1 or 11-37-8.3, the court shall assess the totality of the circumstances of the offense and if the court makes a finding that the conduct of the parties is criminal only because of the age of the victim, the court may have discretion to order the juvenile to register as a sex offender as long as the court deems it appropriate to protect the community and to rehabilitate the juvenile offender. Registration shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.

(k) Annual registration for federal, foreign, or military offenses. Any person who is required to register under this chapter due to a conviction of a federal offense, a foreign offense, or a military offense shall register for the duration and frequency in the same manner as if the offense were committed within Rhode Island.

(l) Homeless persons. In addition to the other requirements of this section, a person who is required to register under this chapter and is homeless shall verify their presence in the community with the local law enforcement agency where they are required to register three (3) times a week for the duration of their being homeless.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 12 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2001–2026 · leading case: State v. Frederick Gibson Frederick Gibson v. State of Rhode Island, 182 A.3d 540 (R.I. 2018).

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State v. Frederick Gibson Frederick Gibson v. State of Rhode Island, 182 A.3d 540 (R.I. 2018). · cites it 28× “Indeed, the state maintains that § 11-37.1-4 applies by its specific and unambiguous terms only to offenses occurring after its enactment in 1996.”

Sebastian Atryzek v. State of Rhode Island, 197 A.3d 334 (R.I. 2018). · cites it 7× “As a result, he argued, the rule of lenity required that the registration period be no longer than that provided for in the 1992 statute's immediate successor statute, § 11-37.1-4, enacted in 1996, which required sex offenders to register "for a period of ten (10) years…”

State v. Germane, 971 A.2d 555 (R.I. 2009). · cites it 2× “Section 11-37.1-4. Those individuals in the third category of offenders were required to register indefinitely until such time as a court might determine that a particular individual was no longer a sexually violent predator; offenders in this third category were also required…”

The PEOPLE of the State of Colorado, Petitioner/Cross-Respondent, IN the INTEREST OF T.B., Respondent/Cross-Petitioner, 489 P.3d 752 (Colo. 2021). “30 ( 2020 ) ; 11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4 (j) ( 2020 ) ; Tex.”

In Re Richard A., 946 A.2d 204 (R.I. 2008). “See § 11-37.1-4(j). The respondent maintains that this requirement manifestly defeats the confidentiality guarantees inherent in a juvenile proceeding.”

United States v. Stevens, 598 F. Supp. 2d 133 (D. Me. 2009). · cites it 3× “104, § 1, R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4(A) (1996). D. The 1996 Conviction for Failure to Register On February 5, 1996, Sergeant David Bessette of the Newport Police Department wrote to Rhode Island Attorney General Jeffrey Pine and advised him that Mr.”

In re Austin B., 208 A.3d 1178 (R.I. 2019). · cites it 2× “15 Additionally, respondent was required to register as a sex offender for ten years following the completion of his sentence, pursuant to G.L. 1956 § 11-37.1-4(a). The respondent timely appealed.”

In Re Christopher S., 776 A.2d 1054 (R.I. 2001). “General Laws 1956 § 11-37.1-4(j), as amended by P.L.2000, ch.”

Sebastian Wells Atryzek v. State of Rhode Island (R.I. 2022). · cites it 11× “196, § 1 (effective July 21, 1992). This was the only defense raised by the state at that time.”

In re E.G.S (R.I. 2026). · cites it 10× “” The trial justice thereafter rendered a bench decision on the issue of sex offender registration, specifically G.L. 1956 § 11-37.1-4(j). She reviewed the procedural history of the case and Mr.”

Bruce Kenyon; Frank Andrade; & Timothy Scanlon v. U.S. Dep't of Just.; U.S. Off. of Just. Programs; & Ass (D.R.I. 2026). · cites it 2× “R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4(b) and (c). The thrust of the Plaintiffs’ challenge is that the statutory scheme fails to consider the circumstances of individual offenders and the characteristics of the crimes they committed.”

Silva v. State of Rhode Island (D.R.I. 2020). “Gen Laws § 11-37.1-4(e). While the evidence does not establish that Defendant had been residing in Rhode Island for more than twenty-four hours when he was arrested at a Rhode Island hotel, that is not what is required; rather, initial registration must be completed within…”

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4(A) — 2 cases

United States v. Stevens, 598 F. Supp. 2d 133 (D. Me. 2009). “104, § 1, R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4(A) (1996). D. The 1996 Conviction for Failure to Register On February 5, 1996, Sergeant David Bessette of the Newport Police Department wrote to Rhode Island Attorney General Jeffrey Pine and advised him that Mr.”

State v. Frederick Gibson Frederick Gibson v. State of Rhode Island, 182 A.3d 540 (R.I. 2018). “Indeed, the state maintains that § 11-37.1-4 applies by its specific and unambiguous terms only to offenses occurring after its enactment in 1996.”

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4(a) — 4 cases

Sebastian Atryzek v. State of Rhode Island, 197 A.3d 334 (R.I. 2018). “As a result, he argued, the rule of lenity required that the registration period be no longer than that provided for in the 1992 statute's immediate successor statute, § 11-37.1-4, enacted in 1996, which required sex offenders to register "for a period of ten (10) years…”

In re Austin B., 208 A.3d 1178 (R.I. 2019). “15 Additionally, respondent was required to register as a sex offender for ten years following the completion of his sentence, pursuant to G.L. 1956 § 11-37.1-4(a). The respondent timely appealed.”

Sebastian Wells Atryzek v. State of Rhode Island (R.I. 2022). “196, § 1 (effective July 21, 1992). This was the only defense raised by the state at that time.”

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4(b) — 1 case

Bruce Kenyon; Frank Andrade; & Timothy Scanlon v. U.S. Dep't of Just.; U.S. Off. of Just. Programs; & Ass (D.R.I. 2026). “R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4(b) and (c). The thrust of the Plaintiffs’ challenge is that the statutory scheme fails to consider the circumstances of individual offenders and the characteristics of the crimes they committed.”

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4(c) — 1 case

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4(e) — 1 case

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37.1-4(j) — 3 cases

In Re Christopher S., 776 A.2d 1054 (R.I. 2001). “General Laws 1956 § 11-37.1-4(j), as amended by P.L.2000, ch.”

In re E.G.S (R.I. 2026). “” The trial justice thereafter rendered a bench decision on the issue of sex offender registration, specifically G.L. 1956 § 11-37.1-4(j). She reviewed the procedural history of the case and Mr.”

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