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Police and prosecutors urge lowering mens rea in child‑endangerment statute; opponents warn of overcriminalization
Summary
Detectives and chiefs told the committee that changing the mens rea for endangering-the-welfare (HB 257) from 'purposefully' to a lower threshold would let prosecutors address dangerous parental conduct; parents, safety advocates and some legislators cautioned 'recklessly' may be too broad and suggested 'knowingly' or clearer drafting.
Senator Long introduced HB 257, a bill that proposes modifying the mental‑state element for the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent. Detective Sergeant Alex Marvin of the Newport Police Department and Lieutenant Nick Georgeulis of Manchester Police described cases where the current "purposeful" standard is too high to secure criminal charges, and they urged replacing it with language such as "reckless" or at minimum "knowingly." Marvin summarized the change in statutory…
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