◉ Rhode Island Lookback Window
Were You Abused as a Child in Rhode Island? The Law Just Changed.
For decades, Rhode Island’s deadlines slammed the courthouse door on survivors before they were ready to come forward. That door is open again but not for long. On June 11, 2026, Governor Dan McKee signed a law creating a two-year “revival window” that lets survivors file claims that were previously barred by time, no matter how many years or decades have passed. If you were sexually abused as a child by a priest, a teacher, a coach, a state facility, a doctor, or any institution that enabled or covered it up, you may now have the right to seek justice and significant compensation. The window opened July 1, 2026, and it closes June 30, 2028. After that date, the door may close for good.
Free Case Evaluation
Complete this quick form, and a legal specialist will contact you within 24 hours.
By submitting, you agree to be contacted by phone, email, or SMS/text (data rates may apply), even if you are on a federal or state Do Not Call registry, to confirm your information and verify eligibility.
Legal Criteria
See If You Qualify
to File a Claim.
Rhode Island’s new law reaches far beyond the Catholic Church. It applies to institutions of every kind: schools, youth programs, healthcare and psychiatric settings, sports organizations, and state facilities that failed to protect children in their care.
The following settings are covered:
The following settings are covered:
Clergy & Religious Institutions
Abuse by a priest, deacon, brother, nun, or lay employee within the Diocese of Providence, a parish, a Catholic school, or another RI religious organization.
Private & Boarding Schools
Abuse by a teacher, coach, athletic trainer, counselor, or staff member at an RI private school, prep school, or boarding school.
Juvenile Detention & State Custody
Abuse by an officer, staffer, or contractor at the RI Training School, a youth development center, a DCYF placement, or a state-contracted group home.
Hospitals & Treatment Facilities
Abuse at a psychiatric hospital, residential treatment center, or behavioral health facility for youth.
Doctors & Medical Settings
Abuse by a physician, nurse, or provider during an exam, procedure, or appointment.
Institutional Cover-Up
Any organization or supervisor that enabled, concealed, or failed to stop the abuse of a child in their care.
To qualify, the abuse must have occurred when you were under 18 and must be connected to Rhode Island. There is no age limit today for coming forward; survivors of any age may file, as long as the claim is filed before the window closes on June 30, 2028.
Legal Criteria
It’s Not Your Fault.
It Was Never Your Fault.
Survivors carry the weight of what was done to them for years, often in silence. That silence was never weakness; it was the predictable result of trauma, fear, and institutions that were built to protect their own reputations instead of the children in their care. Rhode Island’s own government has now said so plainly.
The Betrayal
Trusted Adults, Unthinkable Harm
The people who committed this abuse held positions of trust: clergy, teachers, coaches, doctors, state employees. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General, survivors “recounted unthinkable trauma at the hands of trusted religious leaders,” abuse that occurred, in his words, “on an abhorrent, staggering scale.”
The Cover-Up
Reputation Over Children
This wasn’t a series of isolated incidents. The Attorney General’s investigation found that for decades, the Diocese of Providence “engaged in a well-worn pattern of protecting the reputation of the Church and its priests over the welfare of children,” failing to report abuse, failing to investigate, and returning accused abusers to positions where they harmed more children.
The Reckoning
The State Is Acting
After a nearly seven-year investigation, the state documented 75 credibly accused clergy and more than 300 victims abused between 1950 and 2011. Lawmakers responded by reopening the courts. As the Governor put it, “justice delayed is justice denied,” and this law exists to correct that.
300+
The number of victims of Diocese of Providence clergy abuse the state has documented so far. Investigators believe the true number is higher.
Government Action & Legal Landmarks
The State of Rhode Island Has Already Acted. Now It’s Your Turn.
Rhode Island’s government has spent years building the record and changing the law that makes your claim possible. These are the official actions behind the revival window:
Signed Into Law
June 11, 2026
Governor Dan McKee signed H-7200A / S-2616A, amending the statute of limitations and creating the two-year revival window for claims against institutions and supervisors who enabled or covered up child sexual abuse. Official Governor’s Office release: governor.ri.gov
Passed the General Assembly
The bill cleared both chambers of the Rhode Island legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support before reaching the Governor’s desk.
RI Attorney General’s Report
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha published the findings of a yearslong investigation, identifying 75 credibly accused clergy and more than 300 victims, and recommending the very legislation that became law. Official AG release: riag.ri.gov | Credibly Accused Clergy list: riag.ri.gov/diocese-report/credibly-accused-clergy
Active Criminal Prosecutions
The investigation led the state to indict four current and former priests. Three are awaiting trial and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty: John Petrocelli (Case No. P1-2020-3184A), James Silva (Case No. P1-2021-3378A), and Kevin Fisette (Case No. P1-2022-1857A). A fourth, Edward Kelley, died in 2022 after being found incompetent to stand trial.
The Window Closes June 30, 2028
Once the revival window closes, survivors who have not filed may permanently lose the right to seek compensation. Time is the one thing this law cannot give back.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT
This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary for its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy, including the personalization and analysis of ads and content. If you want to learn more please refer to the cookie policy and privacy policy. You accept the use of cookies by scrolling this page, by clicking a link or button or by continuing to browse otherwise.
41877 Enterprise Cir N # 200, Temecula, CA 92590
