Domestic Violence Disputes (S 525)

This legislation would require police to complete and electronically submit a domestic violence/sexual assault reporting form when responding to domestic violence incidents which includes the words "including a verbal argument or dispute." This language appears to radically expand the scope of what constitutes an incident of domestic violence and, consequently, a criminal offense to be categorized, if not prosected. We argued this be amended because the reporting of "arguments" or "disputes" is neither authorized by the domestic violence statute in Rhode Island nor consistent with the First Amendment.