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Bill would require body cameras for correctional officers after deaths in custody; supporters and DOC offer differing cautions
Summary
House Bill 5928, the "Willie Washington Jr. Act," would require correctional officers to wear body cameras. Sponsors and family members cited multiple in-custody deaths; the ACLU and many advocates backed the measure while the Department of Corrections and some stakeholders asked for privacy, implementation, and fiscal details.
Representative Morales introduced House Bill 5928, known in testimony as the Willie Washington Junior Act, which would require correctional officers at Rhode Island correctional facilities to wear body-worn cameras while on duty.
“By passing the Willie Washington Junior Act, we are taking a stand for transparency,” Representative Morales said, asking the committee to move the bill forward. Morales cited recent deaths at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI), saying family members were left “searching for answers.” Morales named several deaths reported in 2023 and 2024 and said the cameras would record interactions during medical crises and uses of force.
Supporters called…
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