§ 16-21.5-3 - Procedure for interrogating high school students. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-21.5-3

   § 16-21.5-3  Procedure for interrogatinghigh school students. – (a) Before making a high school pupil under eighteen (18) years of ageavailable to a law enforcement officer for the purpose of questioning, theprincipal of the school, or his or her designee, shall inform the pupil thatthe pupil has the right to request that his or her parent or guardian or anadult family member, or person on the list of emergency contacts for the pupilbe present during the questioning.

   (b) If the person selected by the pupil cannot be madeavailable within a reasonable period of time, not exceeding one hour, ordeclines to be present at the questioning, the principal or his or her designeeshall inform the pupil that the pupil may select as an alternate, a schooladministrator, school counselor, or school teacher who is reasonably availableto be present during the questioning.

   (c) If the person selected by the pupil declines to bepresent during the questioning, the principal, or his or her designee, shall soinform the pupil and advise the pupil that the principal, or his or designee,will be present during the questioning if the pupil so requests.

   (d) If the pupil exercises his or her right, pursuant to thissubsection, to have one of the persons designated in paragraph (a), (b) or (c)present during the questioning, the pupil may not be made available to the lawenforcement officer for questioning until that person is present.