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Annual Report 2019

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Annual Report 2019 A ANNUAL REPORT 2019 OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STATE OF RHODE ISLAND B COVIDTABLE OFRESPONSE CONTENTS 1 Attorney General’s Letter 14 Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) 2 Responding to the Impacts of COVID-19 16 Promoting Transparent and Open Government 4 Criminal Justice Reform 17 Keeping Rhode Islanders Safe 6 Engaging with Rhode Island Communities 21 Ensuring Public Integrity and Accountability 8 Protecting Rhode Island Workers and Consumers 23 Appellate 11 Safeguarding the Environment 24 Defending Constitutionality of State Laws 12 Advocating for Civil Rights 25 About the Office 13 Advocating for the Health of Rhode Islanders 28 Law Enforcement Statistics Photo: In 2019, the Office’s Equal Opportunity Advisory Committee kicked off a featured speaker series, welcoming a number of presenters who shared their unique experiences and perspectives with the RIAG team. RIAG Annual Report 2019 COVID RESPONSE 1 DEAR FELLOW RHODE ISLANDERS, It’s the fight that matters. As I write this letter, we are in the midst of a global pandemic that has cost our state hundreds of lives and caused thousands to be out of work. Massive protests calling for civil rights and an end to police brutality are sweeping the country and our state, after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis. This annual report focuses on the work we did in 2019 – our first year in office. But if 2020 so far has taught us anything, it’s that in order to be prepared for the unpredictable, you better have been doing the hard work all along. Part of my role as Attorney General is to push this Office beyond what is comfortable to fight for Rhode Islanders. The full scope of what this Office handles is immense, but I have been truly excited by the impact we can have if we think creatively and use our existing authority in new ways. We’re holding companies accountable when they violate environmental regulations, because no one – no matter what their zip code – should have to breathe polluted air or drink dirty water. We’re helping consumers in disputes with companies that refuse to do the right thing because they think the individual Rhode Islanders don’t have the means to fight back on their own. We’re offering regular office hours at a location on the south We will always fight to keep Rhode Islanders safe. We should focus side of Providence to assist and connect with a community that on violent criminals while diverting, where appropriate, non-violent doesn’t see enough of us. offenders away from traditional prosecution to programs that As the “people’s lawyer,” I want to expand our lane, not narrow connect them with necessary treatment and other services. Our it. I want this Office to be in places people don’t expect, because Public Integrity Unit, created when I took office, is working hard to I believe there are more places where we can make a real ensure that all public officials serve the public, not themselves. difference. The phrase “we’ve never done that before” holds no Everyone in this Office, including me, is here because we love this meaning for me. work. I see it in the attorneys who litigate their large civil and Wage theft is a good example of a place where we needed to do criminal caseloads with distinction and spend their off-hours at more. We’ve stepped up our efforts there, including hiring an our expungement open houses helping Rhode Islanders get back experienced former federal agent whose sole focus is ensuring on track; the consumer investigators who go above and beyond to Rhode Islanders are paid fairly for their work. Using our reach a fair result for every Rhode Islander who files a complaint; regulatory and charitable trust authority to make sure healthcare and our background check team in Cranston who serve more than is accessible and affordable is another. As the healthcare 350 people a day and consider it a privilege to serve the public with landscape changes drastically, this Office has an oversight role courtesy and respect. that is critical to get right. We’re also expanding our ability to As Attorney General, it has been my honor to represent the people of protect civil rights under our existing authority and working hard Rhode Island. I look forward to working with all of you to find ways to convince the General Assembly to give us the tools to do more. we can keep fighting for what matters. Peter F. Neronha Attorney General 2 COVID RESPONSE RESPONDING TO THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 The appearance and spread of COVID-19 in the Additionally, our attorneys provided legal Ocean State prompted swift and decisive action by analysis and advice on a daily basis to address elected and community leaders, as well as public the many novel legal issues raised by the public and private institutions. Just days after the first health response to this epidemic. As the State’s known case of COVID-19 in Rhode Island, Governor legal counsel, we were regularly consulted by the Gina Raimondo declared a state of emergency to executive branch regarding many of the executive address the critical yet still emerging public health orders issued and worked jointly with state agencies crisis. Since the initial response to the COVID-19 to address practical and legal issues around pandemic by state and local government, the lives of quarantine, isolation, travel restrictions, social Rhode Islanders have changed in profound ways. gathering restrictions and stay-at-home orders. At the time of this publication, hundreds of Rhode For perhaps the first time ever, the Office regularly Islanders have lost their lives to COVID-19 and issued public legal guidance documents to help thousands have lost their jobs and face economic government, law enforcement, businesses and uncertainty. The challenges presented by the public the public navigate the quickly changing legal health crisis and resulting economic downturn landscape. We issued guidance about open demanded an unprecedented mobilization of local, government law modifications; the enforcement state and federal resources in response. of executive orders; illegal self-help evictions; protection of federal stimulus payments to nursing Almost immediately following the declaration of home residents; illegal debt collection practices of the state of emergency, the Office of the Attorney stimulus payments; and student loan forgiveness General implemented a continuity of operations options during this crisis. All guidance was made plan, which ensured that the essential functions of publicly available on the Office’s web site and the office remained at the ready to meet the needs COVID-19 resource page. of the people of Rhode Island. Since the plan’s implementation, the Office has continued to fulfill Throughout the State’s collective response to the legal needs of the criminal justice system, COVID-19, the Office has remained a resource for conduct essential background checks, and help the people of Rhode Island and worked tirelessly to Rhode Islanders navigate a myriad of consumer protect their interests. issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic – from cancelled vacations to price gouging. RIAG Annual Report 2019 3 MARCH First positive COVID-19 2 case is reported in RI Governor issues Executive Order declaring State of Emergency 9 after reports of price 11 AG issues warning to RI consumers gouging and other scams AG’s office implements new operational plan to adhere to emergency 16 court calendar, ensure continuity of service for background checks, and allow teleworking for staff AG’s office provides guidance to cities, towns and the public on changes 17 to APRA/OMA open government laws due to executive order 20-05 AG issues urgent warning to RI consumers as new scams promise 20 COVID-19 stimulus checks Public Defender’s Office AG’s office launches COVID-19 resource page to keep Rhode Islanders informed files emergency petition forRI Supreme Court order to release 30 subset of inmates from the ACI APRIL AG files response to emergency petition, stipulating release must 1 be contingent on safeguards recommended by DOH and DOC to ensure inmate does not pose public health risk 3 AG files supplemental stipulation; RI Supreme Court orders 52 ACI inmates to be released 6 AG issues warning against illegal ‘self-help’ evictions AG’s office reaches out to RI gyms and health clubs with guidance 9 regarding membership agreements during suspended operation AG reaches out to community groups to offer civil rights resources after 13 reports of discrimination and harassment against Asian Americans AG issues guidance to police chiefs on enforcement of Executive Orders 16 related to social distancing, quarantine, isolation, and business closures on new 20 AG issues updated guidance to cities, towns and the public APRA/OMA guidelines based on supplemental Executive Order 20-25 AG puts debt collectors on notice that CARES Act relief payments cannot 28 be garnished; issues guidance to financial institutions AG participates in Violence Prevention town hall, outlines resources 31 available for victims of domestic violence MAY 14 AG issues guidance on protections for student loan borrowers JUNE 4 AG alerts Rhode Islanders about legitimacy of Economic Impact Cards AG Neronha issues guidance on federal stimulus payments for nursing 14 home residents 4 CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM “We’re not creating anything new; this is a law that exists in Rhode Island. If you're entitled to expungement under the law, getting it done shouldn't be driven by where you live, what BY THE NUMBERS language you speak, or what your economic means are.” –AG Neronha Number of applicants for expungement EXPUNGEMENT OPEN HOUSES Providence, Broad Street event: One of the Office’s signature achievements in 2019 was the implementation of its Expungement Open Houses.
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