Kidnapping penalties in Rhode Island scale by aggravating factors. Basic kidnapping carries up to 20 years in state prison. Aggravated kidnapping (involving ransom demands, serious bodily injury, or sexual assault during the kidnapping) carries up to life imprisonment. Federal kidnapping charges under the Federal Kidnapping Act add years on top of state penalties. All kidnapping convictions are felonies with lifetime collateral consequences including federal firearm prohibition, voting restrictions during incarceration, and severe employment and immigration impacts. Cases involving children carry additional sex offender registration consequences if the conduct included sexual elements.
