This resolution acknowledges the significant role of pre-trial detention in the criminal justice system, where individuals are incarcerated while awaiting trial without being convicted of a crime. It recognizes that pre-trial detention affects a large portion of jail inmates, disproportionately impacting black and Hispanic individuals, and can have severe consequences for those accused of low-level crimes, including family separation, employment disruption, and loss of housing. The resolution also notes that many are detained pre-trial due to an inability to afford bail or because of holds placed by the court due to prior probation or parole.

To address these issues, the resolution proposes the creation of a special legislative commission consisting of eleven members, including legislators, legal representatives, and formerly incarcerated individuals. The commission's mandate is to analyze the economic and societal benefits and risks of pre-trial supervised release as an alternative to detention, assess the impact of reforms on Black Rhode Islanders, and provide recommendations to reduce the pre-trial population and associated costs. The commission is to report its findings by February 5, 2025, and will dissolve on April 5, 2025. The resolution also allows for the appointment of public members in lieu of legislators to the commission with appropriate consent.