R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-28.2-8.5: Training in investigating and handling complaints involving victims, witnesses, or suspects with cognitive or communication-related disabilities — Educational requirements.

(a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training standards to provide instruction for police detectives in investigating and handling complaints involving victims, witnesses, or suspects with cognitive or communication-related disabilities and shall develop guidelines for detectives responding to incidents involving such persons.

(b) The commission on standards and training shall include and require training in the curricula described in subsection (a) for all newly commissioned police detectives and in-service trainees, in all police academies operated or certified by the commission.

(c) Training presenters shall include:

(1) Intellectual/developmental disabilities and communication disabilities practitioners with expertise in the delivery of direct services to individuals with cognitive disabilities or communication-related disabilities; and

(2) Individuals with cognitive disabilities or communication-related disabilities.

(d) The course of instruction, the learning and performance objectives, the standards for training, and the guidelines shall be developed by the commission on standards and training in consultation with practitioners and advocates having an interest and expertise in providing services and supports to individuals with cognitive disabilities or communication-related disabilities in community-based settings.

(e) Training presentations may utilize the staff of community-based providers of services and supports for individuals with cognitive disabilities and communication-related disabilities, as well as videos or webinars developed by other federal, state, or municipal law enforcement agencies.

(f) As used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) “Police detective” means any member of a municipal police department or a department in the state that is assigned to conduct investigations of complaints.

(2) The terms “cognitive disabilities” and “communication-related disabilities” mean a severe, chronic disability of a person that:

(i) Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment;

(ii) Is likely to continue indefinitely; or

(iii) Results in substantial functional limitations in receptive or expressive language.