Rhode Island State Police Launch Special Victims Unit

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island State Police launched a new, Special Victims Unit, the department announced Tuesday.

The unit will focus on investigating cases involving sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, child molestation, missing children, sex offender registration violations, commercial sexual exploitation of children and human and labor trafficking. Detectives assigned to the unit are specialized in investigating serious violent crimes against children, along with other vulnerable populations like the elderly and people with developmental disabilities, the department said.

"The Special Victims Unit will aggressively pursue justice on behalf of our most vulnerable victims while being sensitive to the unique needs and dynamics associated with these challenging cases,” said Col. James Manni, the superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and director of the Department of Public Safety.

The unit will partner with local, state and community partners, including the Rhode Island Attorney General's office, Hasbro Children's Hospital's Aubin Child Protection Center, the Department of Children, Youth and Families, Day One, the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Law Enforcement Advocates, the Office of Healthy Aging and the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. The goal is to create a multi-disciplinary coalition to provide support to victims and their families.

All detectives working in the SVU received special training in working with victims of trauma, and work closely with an advocate who can provide additional support to victims. A special "soft interview room" was set up to allow for a more comfortable space than a traditional interview room in a police station, state police said.

Anyone who believes they were the victim of a violent crime is encouraged to call the Rhode Island Victims of Crime helpline at 800-494-8100, or call or text 911 if they are in immediate danger. Online resources are also available on the Victim Assistance Program and Safe at Home sections of the Rhode Island State Police website.