§ 11-44-31. Desecration of places of public assemblage.
Every person who shall, willfully and maliciously or mischievously, injure or destroy or write upon, paint, or otherwise damage or deface: (1) any church, synagogue, or other building, structure, or place used for religious worship or other religious purpose; (2) any cemetery, mortuary, or other facility used for the purpose of burial or memorializing the dead; (3) any building used for educational purposes or as a community meeting place and which is owned by an organization exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. § 501; (4) any public building owned and/or operated by the government of the United States or by the government of the state of Rhode Island or its political subdivisions; (5) the grounds adjacent to and owned or rented by any institution, facility, building, structure, or place described in subdivisions (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section; or (6) any personal property contained in any institution, facility, building, structure, or place described in subdivisions (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section; shall be guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or imprisonment not exceeding five (5) years, or both.
History of Section.P.L. 1982, ch. 374, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 512, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 11-44 - Trespass and Vandalism
Section 11-44-1. - Vandalism — Obstruction of lawful pursuits.
Section 11-44-2. - Injury or removal of vegetation — Buildings and fences.
Section 11-44-3. - Arrest and detention of persons taking fruits and vegetables.
Section 11-44-4. - Shooting, trapping or fishing on posted lands — Destruction of signs.
Section 11-44-5. - Willful damage while hunting, trapping or fishing.
Section 11-44-6. - Defacement of bank bills and notes.
Section 11-44-7. - Misappropriation of vehicle, boat, or animal.
Section 11-44-8. - Injury to or interference with water-control structures.
Section 11-44-9. - Firing of weapon near baiting place.
Section 11-44-10. - Injurious substances on baiting places.
Section 11-44-11. - Injury to boundary or line markers.
Section 11-44-12. - Injury to public property.
Section 11-44-12.1. - Damage to instrumentality of public transportation.
Section 11-44-13. - Injury to public statues and monuments.
Section 11-44-14. - Breaking lamps or windows.
Section 11-44-16. - Removal of gravel from or deposit of debris on Easton’s Beach.
Section 11-44-17. - Enforcement of § 11-44-16.
Section 11-44-18. - Bounds of Easton’s Beach.
Section 11-44-19. - Deposit of debris on Middletown beaches.
Section 11-44-20. - Property of life saving corps — Interference or deception.
Section 11-44-21. - Vandalizing alarms or call boxes — False alarms.
Section 11-44-22. - Throwing articles at moving vehicles.
Section 11-44-23. - Throwing objects at police officer, firefighter or police or fire vehicles.
Section 11-44-24. - Blocking or obstructing public rights-of-way to water.
Section 11-44-25. - Deposit of debris on public rights-of-way to water.
Section 11-44-26.1. - Mandatory minimum fine for willful trespass within school buildings.
Section 11-44-27. - Fishing from Jamestown Bridge prohibited.
Section 11-44-28. - Trespass upon premises of private recreational facilities.
Section 11-44-29. - Willful breaking of glass.
Section 11-44-30. - Posting of signs — Types.
Section 11-44-31. - Desecration of places of public assemblage.