---
title: "What is the penalty for domestic assault in Rhode Island?"
description: "Penalties for domestic assault in Rhode Island depend on the underlying offense and your prior record. A first-offense misdemeanor domestic assault carries up to 1 year in jail and fines, with a..."
url: https://duiattorneyrhodeisland.com/faq-items/what-is-the-penalty-for-domestic-assault-in-rhode-island/
date: 2026-05-23
modified: 2026-05-23
author: "Criminal Defense Attorney Rory Munns"
type: faq
lang: en
---

# What is the penalty for domestic assault in Rhode Island?

Penalties for domestic assault in Rhode Island depend on the underlying offense and your prior record. A first-offense misdemeanor domestic assault carries up to 1 year in jail and fines, with a minimum 10-day sentence in some cases. Second offenses carry mandatory minimum jail time and longer maximum sentences. Felony-level domestic assault, including domestic assault by strangulation, can carry several years in prison. Convictions also trigger mandatory attendance at a Batterers Intervention Program, federal restrictions on firearm possession under the Lautenberg Amendment, and significant collateral consequences for employment, child custody, and immigration status. The 2026 HB8080 proposal would make a third domestic violence offense automatically a felony if enacted.