By Johanna Kaiser, Communications & Development Associate
No one should have to choose between saving a life and going to jail, but as of today, that’s exactly the choice Rhode Islanders will have to make. The state’s Good Samaritan Law, which protects people from certain drug charges if they call 911 during a drug overdose, expired today after two years on the books.
Given the overdose crisis Rhode Island currently faces this life-saving bill was perhaps more important than ever, but just as lawmakers were about to extend and possibly expand it, the General Assembly abruptly recessed and left the bill to expire.
The ACLU of Rhode Island and many other groups worked tirelessly to keep this law in place and expand its protections to those on probation in parole, and now we must ensure that the state does not prioritize making arrests over saving lives. That’s where we need your help. Call the Attorney General’s Office today and ask him to publicly commit to not charging anyone who calls for help during a drug overdose. By making this promise, Rhode Island can continue to protect the lives of its residents until we can reinstate the Good Samaritan Law.
Steve DeToy of the Rhode Island Medical Society and Rebecca Nieves McGoldrick of Protect Families First, two of the leading voices in the fight to save the Good Samaritan Law, joined the ACLU’s cable show this month to discuss the importance of this bill, how it expired, and why prosecuting someone when they call for help is not the right answer to overdose epidemic.
Check out the clip below and tune in for the full discussion throughout the month of July. (Showtimes here)
