{"data":{"id":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-11-20-1.1","jurisdiction":"us-ri","citation":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-20-1.1","heading":"Mutilation of dead human bodies — Penalties — Exemptions.","body":"(a) Except as provided in this section, a person who dissects or mutilates a dead human body is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years, or a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.\n(b) This section does not apply to:\n(1) A physician or surgeon acting on the order of a court of competent jurisdiction, a coroner or other qualified officer, a licensed funeral director or a licensed embalmer;\n(2) Dissection to determine the cause of death when authorized by the nearest living kin of the deceased;\n(3) Unclaimed dead human bodies delivered by state or county authorities to regularly chartered institutions for scientific research;\n(4) The necessary mutilation incident to embalming a dead human body when authorized by nearest living kin, a court of competent jurisdiction or other qualified officer; or\n(5) Conduct authorized by the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, chapter 18.6 of title 23.","path":["Title 11 Criminal Offenses","Chapter 20 Graves and Corpses"],"source_url":"https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE11/11-20/11-20-1.1.htm","current_through":"site files published 2025-08-13","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T19:55:13Z","sha256":"ea966aeed227b862fff76e1ace7d53b9988e9d56afd0b84adbb945b780043149","source_id":"us-ri","stale":true,"prev":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-11-20-1","next":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-11-20-1.2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}