R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-11 (2026)
Assault on persons with severe impairments
(a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “adult” means a person over the age of eighteen (18).
(2) “major life activities” means: (i) mobility; (ii) self-care; (iii) communication; (iv) receptive and/or expressive language; (v) learning; (vi) self-direction; (vii) capacity for independent living; or (viii) economic self-sufficiency.
(3) “person with severe impairments” means a child or adult who has a disability which is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments which results in a substantial limitation on the person’s ability to function independently in the family or community and in one or more major life activities.
(b) Any person who shall commit an assault and battery upon a person who is severely impaired as defined in subsection (a) of this section, causing bodily injury, shall be deemed to have committed a felony and shall be imprisoned not exceeding five (5) years, or fined not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or both.
(c) Violations of this section shall be reported to the local police department.
(d) After July 1, 2007 pursuant to § 40-8.5-2, the local police department may request the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals provide crisis intervention services for the adult victim with severe impairments when:
(1) Necessary to ensure the immediate health and safety of the adult victim;
(2) The adult victim relies on the person believed to have committed the assault and/or battery, for assistance in performing three (3) or more major life activities; and
(3) After the victim is informed of his or her right to refuse crisis intervention and/or supportive services.