Witness tampering in Rhode Island is the use of threats, force, bribery, or other unlawful means to influence a witness’s testimony or prevent them from testifying. It is a felony charge under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-32-5 with penalties up to 5 years in prison. The charge frequently arises in domestic assault cases (defendant contacts alleged victim despite no-contact order) and other cases involving complaining witnesses. Federal witness tampering under 18 U.S.C. § 1512 carries even higher penalties. Defense angles include contesting the intent to influence testimony, arguing protected communication, and challenging whether the contact was actually witness tampering versus innocent communication.
