1. Victim and Witness Rights
- Rhode Island Attorney General – Victim Services
Provides advocacy, information on victim rights, and assistance navigating the legal process and compensation options. - Rhode Island Crime Victim Compensation Program
Offers financial support for medical, counseling, relocation, and other costs incurred due to victimization.
2. Free and Low-Cost Legal Aid Programs
- Rhode Island Legal Services
Provides free civil legal aid for low-income residents dealing with harassment, stalking, defamation, or abuse. - Rhode Island Center for Justice
Offers legal assistance and advocacy for underserved communities, including domestic violence and harassment survivors.
3. Relevant Laws
- Stalking: R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-59-1
What it means: Engaging in a pattern of behavior intended to cause fear, emotional distress, or threaten safety. Includes cyberstalking and repeated digital communications. - Harassment: No specific general statute. Addressed under stalking, disorderly conduct, and telecommunications statutes
What it means: Covers threatening, obscene, or repeated unwanted communications that cause alarm or distress. May be prosecuted under related criminal offenses. - Bullying: No adult criminal statute. Covered under R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-26 (Safe School Act)
What it means: Requires all public schools to enforce anti-bullying and cyberbullying policies, including investigation, intervention, and disciplinary action. - Defamation: Civil tort, not criminal. Based on Rhode Island case law.
What it means: Individuals may bring civil lawsuits for libel or slander if false statements have caused reputational or financial harm. No criminal defamation statute exists in Rhode Island.
4. Reporting and Hotlines
- Call 911 in emergencies or if safety is at risk.
- Report non-emergency cases to local law enforcement or municipal courts.
- Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV)
Connects survivors to legal help, safe housing, counseling, and local advocacy programs statewide. - Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-494-8100
24/7 confidential support for victims of abuse, harassment, and stalking across Rhode Island.
5. Support Organizations
- Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Offers a network of local agencies that provide legal advocacy, support groups, and prevention education. - Sojourner House
Provides comprehensive domestic and sexual violence services including legal aid, emergency shelter, and trauma support.
6. Civil Remedies and Protection Orders
Rhode Island courts issue Restraining Orders and No Contact Orders to prevent stalking, harassment, or abuse. These may restrict physical contact, proximity, and communication. Legal aid and court clerks can assist with completing and filing forms.
Important Note on Jurisdiction: If the individual you are seeking a restraining order against lives in a different state, your local court may not have jurisdiction to enforce that order. In most cases, you must file for protection in the state where that individual resides or where the conduct occurred. This applies even in situations involving online harassment, defamation, or stalking. Contact legal aid services in both your state and the other person’s state for guidance.
7. Youth and School Resources
- Rhode Island Department of Health – School Violence and Bullying Prevention
Provides data, school safety guidance, and policy requirements for bullying prevention under the Safe School Act.
8. Court Forms and Filing Help
- Rhode Island Judiciary – Family Court Protection Orders
Offers forms and instructions for filing protective orders, including harassment and stalking cases.
9. Online Safety and Privacy Tools
- NNEDV Tech Safety Toolkit
Offers digital privacy resources and practical guidance for survivors of cyberstalking, impersonation, and harassment.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
