(a) Before making an elementary school pupil available to a law enforcement officer for the purpose of being questioned, the principal of the elementary school, or his or her designee, shall take immediate steps to obtain the oral consent of the parent or guardian of the pupil to permit the questioning. (b) If the parent or guardian requests that the pupil not be questioned until he or she can be present, the pupil may not be made available to the law enforcement officer for questioning until the parent or guardian is present. (c) If school officials are unable, after reasonable efforts undertaken within a period not to exceed one hour, to contact a parent or guardian in order to obtain consent pursuant to this subdivision, a school administrator, school counselor, or school teacher who is reasonably available and selected by the pupil, shall be present during the questioning. (d) If the school administrator, school counselor, or school teacher selected by the pupil declines to be present during the questioning, the principal, or his or her designee, shall be present during the questioning. administrator, school counselor, or school teacher selected by the pupil declines to be present during the questioning, the principal, or his or her designee, shall be present during the questioning. (e) In those cases in which school officials are unable to contact the pupil’s parent or guardian, after the questioning has been completed, the principal or his or her designee shall immediately notify the parent or guardian that the questioning has occurred and make the staff member who was present during the questioning available to inform the parent or guardian about questioning. History of Section.P.L. 2005, ch. 409, § 1.
Rhode Island Legal Code