(a)  Any person who knowingly commits any act of abuse, as that term is defined by § 23-17.8-1(a)(1)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv), mistreatment, or neglect against a patient or resident of a facility shall be fined not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) or imprisoned not more than three (3) years, or both.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-17.8-10

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  Any person who commits any act of abuse as that term is defined by § 23-17.8-1(a)(1)(v) against a patient or resident of a facility shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(c)  If at the time of the alleged patient abuse, neglect, or mistreatment, the person committing the act was employed by a facility which either condoned or attempted to conceal the act or acts, that facility upon conviction shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).

(d)  Any member of the board of directors or a high managerial agent of a facility who condones or conceals any acts of abuse, neglect or mistreatment of patients or residents of the facility shall be fined not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) or imprisoned not more than three (3) years, or both.

History of Section.
P.L. 1992, ch. 423, § 3; P.L. 1993, ch. 386, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 317, § 7.