Here is a summary of what happened to select budget appropriations in the area of juvenile justice considered in the 2008 legislative session from the 2008 Legislative Wrap-Up:

RI Training School Population: The population of the Training School has been capped at 148 males and 12 females. Whenever the population reaches 95% of capacity, or 141 males and 11 females, youth who do not pose a risk of harm to themselves or the community will be referred to Family Court for release. $1.2 million of the projected $2.4 million in savings will be invested into community-based programs during FY 2009.

Bills Tracked During the 2008 Session of the Rhode Island General Assembly:

Senate Bill No.2423
Introduced by Senators: Alves, Metts, Moura, Levesque C, Ciccone
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DELIQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT
(would transfer all cases in superior court and district court to the jurisdiction of family court where the defendant has not reached 18 years of age)

Action:
02/12/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Senate Bill No.2875
(by request)
Introduced by Senator Paiva-Weed
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS--FAMILY COURT
(would prohibit a juvenile hearing board or teen court from hearing or disposing of any offense which involves alcohol or illegal substances except by express written consent of the chief judge of the family court)

Action:
03/13/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
04/29/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/29/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

House Bill No.7023
Introduced by Represenatives: Gemma, Brien, Singleton, Wasylyk, Lima
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY COURT -- JURISDICTION
(mandate that sentences imposed by courts, other than family court, upon seventeen years pursuant to 2007 P.L. 73 Article 22, section 1, be vacated and remand to the family court for the institution of appropriate proceedings)

Action:
01/02/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance
06/18/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
06/19/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

House Bill No.7395
Introduced by Representative Lally
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS--FAMILY COURT
(prohibit a juvenile hearing board or teen court from hearing or disposing of any offense which involves alcohol or illegal substances except by express written consent of the chief judge of the family court)

Action:
02/06/2008 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/24/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/24/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study