{"data":{"id":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-21-28.9-4","jurisdiction":"us-ri","citation":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-28.9-4","heading":"Emergency overdose care — Immunity from legal repercussions.","body":"(a) Any person who, in good faith, without malice and in the absence of evidence of an intent to defraud, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose or other drug- or alcohol-related medical emergency shall not be charged or prosecuted for any crime related to the possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia, or the operation of a drug-involved premises, if the evidence for the charge was gained as a result of the seeking of medical assistance.\n(b) A person who experiences a drug or alcohol overdose or other drug- or alcohol-related medical emergency and is in need of medical assistance shall not be charged or prosecuted for any crime related to the possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia, possession or transportation of alcohol by an underage person, or the operation of a drug-involved premises, if the evidence for the charge was gained as a result of the overdose and the need for medical assistance.\n(c) The act of providing first aid or other medical assistance to someone who is experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose or other drug- or alcohol-related medical emergency may be used as a mitigating factor in a criminal prosecution pursuant to the controlled substances act.\n(d) The immunity related to the possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia, possession or transportation of alcohol by an underage person, or the operation of a drug-involved premises afforded under this section shall also extend to a violation of bail, probation, and/or parole on those grounds.","path":["Title 21 Food and Drugs","Chapter 28.9 The Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Act of 2016"],"source_url":"https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE21/21-28.9/21-28.9-4.htm","current_through":"site files published 2025-08-13","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T19:56:28Z","sha256":"6727c617b1c4beb7b6495866995754335e4f52300ec5979dfa76ad75b83ec86f","source_id":"us-ri","stale":true,"prev":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-21-28.9-3.1","next":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-21-28.9-5"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}