Rhode Island

Facilities in Rhode Island

Residential facilities providing religious, behavioral, and mental health treatment to children exist in all 50 states. Some of these facilities are known to be part of the Troubled Teen Industry, while others have not yet been verified. Any facility where children live and receive care requires additional oversight. This directory helps communities monitor local programs and advocate for accountability.

Reporting abuse in Rhode Island

Rhode Island's reporting law names this industry directly: under RIGL 40-11-3 every person in the state must report suspected child abuse or neglect within 24 hours, and the law defines abuse to include injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, negligent treatment or maltreatment by any employee of a residential facility or any staff person providing out-of-home care. The same department licenses those facilities and takes the reports.

Time limits in Rhode Island: a general guide

This was correct as far as we could tell when we checked it on 28 September 2026. Laws on time limits change often, sometimes every legislative session, so some of what follows may have been updated since. It is a starting point, not legal advice: please check with a lawyer before relying on any date here. A time limit on a lawsuit or a criminal charge is also not a time limit on telling someone, and most of the places listed below will still take a report.

Time limits for abuse of a child often run from the survivor's 18th birthday, or from when they came to understand what happened, rather than from the day the program closed. Many states have lengthened them, removed them for child sexual abuse, or reopened claims that had already expired. A criminal charge, a lawsuit and a licence complaint each have their own time limit, so one having passed does not necessarily mean the others have.

Lawsuits

Physical abuse or injury: Three years for injuries to the person, which covers assault, battery and negligence. R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b)
If it happened before you turned 18: If you were under 18 when you were hurt, the three years start at 18, so the deadline is your 21st birthday. R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-19
If the program was run by or for the government: Less certain Tort claims against the state, a city or town must be filed within three years of the injury; for a city or town, the claim must first be presented to the town or city council. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 9-1-25(a), 45-15-5
Child sexual abuse: CSA: The civil SOL for all CSA claims against all defendants is age 53 with a 7-year discovery rule and revival up to age 53 against perpetrators only. Trafficking: The civil SOL for trafficking claims against perpetrators is age 28. CSAM: The civil SOL for CSAM claims against all defendants is age 53. CHILD USA's summary

Criminal charges

Physical child abuse: Less certain Three years. Rhode Island's felony child abuse law (Brendan's Law) has no special deadline, so the general three-year rule applies, with no pause until the child turns 18. R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-12-17(c); § 11-9-5.3
Assault: Three years for felony assault, and three years for misdemeanor assault as well. R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-12-17(c)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: There is no criminal SOL for certain CSA felonies. For any remaining felonies and misdemeanors, the SOL is 3 years from the offense. Trafficking: The SOL for trafficking is 10 years from the offense. CSAM: The SOL for CSAM violations is 3 years from the offense. CHILD USA's summary

The injury, assault and physical abuse lines are our reading of the statutes linked, as they stood on 28 September 2026. The child sexual abuse lines are CHILD USA's summary as it stood on 28 September 2026; their page may be more current than ours. In them SOL means statute of limitations, CSA child sexual abuse, and CSAM child sexual abuse material. "Less certain" marks a line where the law is unclear or where our reading has not been confirmed, so please treat it with extra care. Exceptions, court rulings and the details of what happened can all change which time limit applies, and some of these may be longer or shorter for you than they look here. CHILD USA's statute of limitations tracker, updated as each state changes its law. A lawyer can tell you which time limit applies to you, and many offer a free first consultation.

The therapist's licensing board

Holds the individual clinician's licence and can suspend or revoke it.

Rhode Island Department of Health, licensee complaints

Multiple professions

Licenses and disciplines Rhode Island's clinical mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers and psychologists through its boards, and takes complaints against all of them through one route.

Use this whenA licensed mental health professional in Rhode Island.

HowSubmit a complaint through the Department's licensee complaints page.

401-222-5960 Psychology Licensing Board. Department main line 401-222-5500.
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The agency that licenses the program

Inspects the facility itself and can cite, fine, suspend or close it.

Rhode Island DCYF Licensing

Under RI General Law 42-72.1 the Department of Children, Youth and Families licenses, monitors and enforces the regulations for every foster home, residential facility and child-placing agency in the state.

Use this whenA Rhode Island residential facility.

HowComplain to the Department's licensing staff. If you are not satisfied with the decision, there is a right of appeal to a judicial forum.

Law enforcement and legal channels

Child protection, the Attorney General, and the criminal side.

Rhode Island Child Abuse Hotline

The statutory report line, open around the clock. Rhode Island law defines reportable abuse to include maltreatment by any employee of a residential facility or staff person providing out-of-home care, so conduct inside a program is squarely covered.

Use this whenA child under 18 at a Rhode Island program. Every person in Rhode Island is required to report within 24 hours of knowing or suspecting.

HowCall. All calls are recorded, and you may call anonymously.

DeadlineThe duty is to report within 24 hours of knowing or suspecting - a deadline on the reporter, not on the abuse.

1-800-742-4453 1-800-RI-CHILD. 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Oversight and advocacy

Bodies with a right to investigate, and advocates who can act for you.

Disability Rights Rhode Island

Rhode Island's Protection and Advocacy agency, with federal authority to investigate abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in facilities, a right of access to them, and free legal advocacy.

Use this whenA Rhode Island program where the young person has a disability or a mental health diagnosis.

HowContact the intake line.

1-800-733-5332 Main line 401-831-3150; TTY 401-831-5335.
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National reporting channels, and the same list for other states