The Civil Rights team ensures that civil rights matters – including hate crimes, incidents of police misconduct or excessive use of force – are addressed with the level of scrutiny and professionalism that all communities in the State deserve, whether pursued criminally or civilly.
To report civil rights violations, hate crimes, or incidents of police misconduct or excessive use of force, file a complaint online or call (401) 274-4400 [option 4].
View RIAG Investigations and Reports page here.
The Civil Rights team is comprised of the Civil Rights Advocate in the Civil Division and the Civil Rights Prosecution Unit in the Criminal Division. This integrated team applies a joint investigation model when scrutinizing these cases to ensure all perspectives are represented.
Our areas of responsibility include:
A hate crime is any criminal act in which the perpetrator intentionally selects a victim or property because of the perpetrator’s hatred or animus towards a person’s protected status (actual or perceived race, religion, color, disability, national origin or ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation).
Under Rhode Island law, a hate crime does not need to be motivated solely by bigotry or bias; rather the evidence must show that the offense was motivated, at least in part, by the defendant’s animus toward the victim’s protected status.
In Rhode Island, a hate crime is not a separate criminal charge; it is a sentencing enhancement.
If a perpetrator interferes with a person’s constitutional rights (for example, the right to vote) or legal rights (for example, the right to be free from discrimination in housing, employment, or education) using physical force or violence, trespass, or damage or destruction of property, or threatens to do the same, our Office can bring a civil enforcement action. In these cases, the Office can seek an injunction to stop the unlawful conduct.
Police are authorized to use the reasonable force necessary to affect a lawful law enforcement function. However, police may not use excessive force. Doing so may be a violation of departmental policy or criminal law.
Once we receive a complaint, the Attorney General’s Office will forward it to the relevant police department for investigation, in coordination with our Office. The process is explained in detail in the Attorney General’s Protocol for the Review of Incidents Involving the Use of Deadly Force, Excessive Force and Custodial Death.
We also encourage you to file a complaint directly with the police department in question. You can find contact information for each department’s office of professional conduct on the individual department’s web site.
To report civil rights violations, hate crimes, or incidents of police misconduct or excessive use of force, file a complaint online or call (401) 274-4400 [option 4].
View RIAG Investigations and Reports page here.
In the Community
The Civil Rights team plays an important role in the community by serving as a resource to local law enforcement throughout the investigation and/or prosecution of hate crimes. The Civil Rights team also provides civil rights trainings and education to organizations throughout the state.
To schedule a civil rights training for your organization, e-mail civilrights@riag.ri.gov.
Law Enforcement Guidance for Hate Crimes
An effective response to hate crimes and related civil rights violations is imperative for law enforcement in Rhode Island to ensure that the community and law enforcement are aligned in the shared goal of reducing crime targeted at minorities and other vulnerable groups.
We issued law enforcement guidance for hate crime investigations to address misconduct motivated by bigotry or hatred of protected groups and to improve policing in Rhode Island.
This guidance recommends that each police department designate a Hate Crimes and Civil Rights Liaison, who will serve as a department contact to the Civil Rights Team.
Additional Resources
The Civil Rights team is not the only governmental civil rights resource available; there are several other state and federal agencies that have broad jurisdiction to investigate possible civil rights violations:
The Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights
(401) 222-2661
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(800) 669-4000
The U.S. Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
(800) 669-9777
The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
(401) 421-3481
The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
(401) 514-4609
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
(202) 376-8513
If you believe you have been a victim of a crime, including a hate crime, please contact the Rhode Island State Police or your local police department before submitting a complaint to the Attorney General’s Office.
In an emergency, please call 911 immediately.