The bill amends Section 12-19-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-19, which pertains to sentencing and execution. It introduces new provisions that require courts to consider whether a defendant is a parent of a child or infant whose well-being may be negatively affected by the parent's absence during sentencing. The court must make a finding regarding the defendant's parental status and evaluate various factors, including the child's age, the parent's role in caregiving, the relationship between the parent and child, and any special needs of the child.

Defendants are permitted to present a family impact statement at sentencing, which the court must consider prior to imposing any sentence. This impact statement may include testimony from family and community members, written statements, videos, and other documentation. Unless the court finds that the parent poses a significant risk to the community that outweighs the risk of harm to the child from the parent's removal, the court is mandated to impose a sentence of probation, a suspended sentence, or home confinement, allowing the parent to continue caring for their child or children.

The bill takes effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
145: 12-19-2