Rhode Island FY24 SJSP

The Rhode Island Department of Public Safety, Public Safety Grant Administration Office (PSGAO) is currently finalizing its Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA) implementation plan. With grant funds, the Rhode Island Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) will be able to expand its capacity to better handle the state’s DCRA project. It is the goal of the SAC to become as efficient as possible while performing this data collection and to report the most accurate and complete data possible. The only way to begin this process is to ensure that those required to report data are properly educated in what is required and also understand the reason that this data is critical. Resources will be allocated to this education and outreach initiative. Meetings will be held with each agency that is required to report data to fully educate them on the requirements. As necessary, PSGAO would coordinate group training sessions for multiple agencies to attend at one time with resources from the Training and Technical Assistance Center. Upon completion of this training, the SAC will administratively manage the process of following up with agencies to execute data collection MOUS to begin the reporting process. Funding will also enable SAC staff to provide regular follow-up with non-reporting agencies as well as follow up with agencies that have deaths where the cause of death is still undetermined. Additional funding would allow the SAC to create a dedicated Death in Custody Reporting web site. This website will become a public facing portal that citizens as well as law enforcement agencies can use to access information on Death in Custody Reporting in the State of Rhode Island. Training opportunities, frequently asked questions about the reporting requirements, and other informational materials can be published by law enforcement agencies and provided to their staff.