Rhode Island Sexual Assault Lawyers Fighting for Survivors Across the State

If you or someone you love was sexually abused in Rhode Island, you may have more legal options right now than you realize. Sommers Schwartz is a nationally recognized sexual assault law firm with deep experience representing survivors in civil cases against the institutions, organizations, and individuals responsible for their harm. We know how difficult it is to come forward. We also know that a skilled legal team can make the difference between silence and justice.

Rhode Island is at a historic turning point for abuse survivors. On June 11, 2026, Rhode Island enacted a law that opened a temporary two-year “revival window,” allowing survivors whose claims had expired under old deadlines to file, including against the institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up the abuse. The window opened July 1, 2026, and closes June 30, 2028. That deadline matters. If your window closes without action, your claim may be permanently barred.

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors from Providence to Newport, from Woonsocket to Westerly. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our attorneys are experienced, compassionate, and ready to listen. Whether your abuse happened decades ago or more recently, we encourage you to reach out today and find out where you stand legally.

Our firm handles every type of sexual abuse civil claim in Rhode Island, including clergy abuse, school abuse, juvenile facility abuse, and healthcare professional abuse. We understand how these institutions operate, how they cover up wrongdoing, and how to hold them accountable. The pages within this hub cover every aspect of Rhode Island sexual abuse law, specific accused individuals, and the institutions where abuse occurred. We encourage you to explore the resources here and then contact us directly.

To understand your rights and deadlines, start with our overview of the Rhode Island Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations (Annie’s Law, Houllahan, H-7200A), which explains how the law has changed and what it means for your case today.

The 2026 Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report and the Lookback Window

The legal landscape in Rhode Island shifted dramatically in 2026. Two major developments opened the door for thousands of survivors who had previously been shut out of the courts.

First came the Attorney General’s report. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha publicly released on March 4, 2026, the anticipated report on his six-year historical records review of clergy sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, capping an investigation that began in 2019 through a voluntary agreement with the diocese to survey records stretching back to 1950. The report identified 75 credibly accused clergy, including 61 diocesan priests and deacons, 13 religious order members, and one extern priest, who allegedly abused more than 300 victims between 1950 and 2011. The Attorney General’s office published its findings publicly, and you can read our breakdown in The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Report, Explained.

Second came the lookback window. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed a law opening a two-year lookback window for childhood sexual assault survivors. The revival window runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028, during which childhood sex abuse survivors can file civil claims even if the statute of limitations on their cases had previously expired. The bill also establishes that institutions, organizations, and individuals can be held liable for negligence or concealment of sexual abuse of minors. Our detailed page on The 2026–2028 Rhode Island Child Sexual Abuse Lookback Window explains exactly who qualifies and what steps to take before the deadline.

If you were abused by a member of the clergy and want to understand how prior settlements and compensation programs have worked, our page on Diocese of Providence Compensation Programs and Prior Settlements provides important historical context. The Diocese of Providence has paid millions to survivors of clergy abuse, and in 2019, the diocese disclosed it had paid more than $21 million in settlements to abuse survivors. Our attorneys know how these programs work and when a lawsuit is a better path than a compensation fund.

Clergy Abuse by the Diocese of Providence and Religious Orders

The Diocese of Providence covers the entire state of Rhode Island, and the scope of abuse documented within it is staggering. For more than seven decades, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence concealed the sexual abuse of hundreds of children by over six dozen clergy members. A total of 72 deacons and priests faced credible accusations of abuse dating as far back as 1950. Sommers Schwartz represents survivors who were abused by named and unnamed clergy members throughout the state.

Our hub includes individual pages for dozens of accused priests. You can find information about Father John Abruzzese, Father Raymond Allard, Father Dennis Brodeur, Father Louis Demers, Father Albert Desrosiers, Father Paul Desrosiers, Father Oscar Ferland, Father James Jackson, Father Edward Kelley, Father Paul Henry Leech, Father Philip Magaldi, Father Normand Marcantonio, Father Joseph McCra, Father Francis Santilli, and Father John Scagnelli, among many others.

We also have pages covering additional accused clergy including Father Argencourt, Father Azzarone, Father Barnes, Father Battel, Father Belhumeur, Father Bordignon, Father Campbell, Father Carpentier, Father Cavanaugh, Father Charland, Father Corbesero, Father Crafton, Father D’Angelo, Father DeAngelis, Father Diogo, Father Dolan, Father Doran, Father Dunn, Father Dziob, Father Edes, Father Feeney, Father Ferry, Father Fitzgerald, Father Flanagan, Father Gagnon, Father Gillooly, Father Gorton, Father Guertin, Father Holden, Father Lacasse, Father LaMountain, Father Leboeuf, Father Lepire, Father Lonardo, Father Manu, Father McIntyre, Father Meehan, Father Meglio, Father Menard, Father Micarelli, Father O’Connell, Father J.F. O’Neil, Father W. O’Neill, Father Powers, Father Rafferty, Father Raiche, Father Reynolds, Father Rocha, Father Sadowski, Father Santagata, Father Smyth, Father Tanguay, Father Tedeschi, Father Tormey, Father Tousignant, Father Turillo, Father Ventre, and more. Each page explains what is publicly known about that individual and how survivors can pursue a claim.

Abuse did not happen only through diocesan priests. Religious orders operating in Rhode Island also face serious accusations. Our pages on the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Rhode Island, the Congregation of Christian Brothers in Rhode Island, Benedictine Monks at Portsmouth Abbey, Dominican Friars in Rhode Island (Providence College), and the Salesians and Other Orders Serving the Diocese detail the specific history and legal exposure of each group. For a comprehensive overview of the full scope of clergy misconduct, visit our main Diocese of Providence Clergy Abuse page.

Parishes, Catholic Schools, and Institutional Locations Where Abuse Occurred

Sexual abuse by clergy and religious figures did not happen in isolation. It happened in churches, schools, youth programs, and residential facilities across Rhode Island. Identifying where abuse occurred is an important part of building a civil claim. Institutions can be held liable under Rhode Island law when they knew about abuse, failed to investigate complaints, or moved accused individuals to new positions where they had continued access to children.

Our hub includes dedicated pages for specific parishes and Catholic institutions where abuse has been reported. These include St. Mary’s Church, Cranston, Our Lady of Mercy, East Greenwich, St. Aloysius Home, Smithfield, Jesus Savior Church, Newport, St. Matthew Church, Cranston, St. Mary Church, Bristol, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Providence, St. Raphael Academy, Pawtucket, St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket, St. Margaret Church, East Providence, St. Anthony Church, North Providence, Immaculate Conception Church, Cranston, St. Jude’s Parish, Lincoln, and St. Michael Church, Providence.

Youth programs also served as environments where abuse occurred. If you or your child participated in Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Programs in Rhode Island, our page explains what we know about reported abuse in those settings and what legal options may be available.

Rhode Island’s private and parochial schools have also been sites of serious abuse. Our pages on Rhode Island Private and Boarding School Abuse and Rhode Island Parochial and Catholic School Abuse give a broad overview. We also have institution-specific pages for St. George’s School, Middletown, Portsmouth Abbey School, La Salle Academy, Providence, Mount Saint Charles Academy, Woonsocket, and Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick. Schools have a legal duty of care toward students, and when they fail to protect children from known predators, they can be held civilly liable.

Juvenile Facility Abuse and Healthcare Institutional Abuse in Rhode Island

Sexual abuse does not only happen in churches and schools. Rhode Island has a documented history of abuse within its juvenile detention facilities and state-run residential programs. Children placed in these settings are among the most vulnerable, and the institutions responsible for their care owe them a high duty of protection. When that duty is violated, civil claims are possible, and the lookback window may apply to historic claims from these facilities as well.

Our pages on Rhode Island Training School Sexual Abuse, Sockanosset School for Boys (Historic Claims), and Rhode Island Juvenile Detention and Residential Facility Abuse cover these specific settings in detail. If you were placed in state care as a minor and experienced abuse, you may have a viable civil claim against the facility or the state agency responsible for your placement.

Healthcare settings present a different but equally serious problem. Doctors, therapists, and other licensed professionals hold positions of trust and authority. When they exploit that trust through sexual misconduct, they cause lasting psychological harm. Rhode Island civil law allows survivors to bring claims against both the individual professional and the hospital or practice that employed them, particularly when the institution failed to properly screen, supervise, or respond to complaints.

Our pages on Doctor and Medical Professional Sexual Abuse in Rhode Island, Hospital and Healthcare Facility Abuse Claims, and Therapist, Counselor, and Clergy-Counseling Abuse explain how these claims work and what evidence matters most. If you were abused by a medical or mental health professional in Rhode Island, contact Sommers Schwartz to discuss your options.

Serving Survivors in Every Rhode Island Community

Sommers Schwartz serves survivors throughout Rhode Island, no matter where they live or where the abuse occurred. Our attorneys are available to meet with you, and every initial consultation is completely confidential. We have city-specific pages to help you understand your local legal options and connect with our team. Whether you are in a major city or a smaller community, we are here for you.

We serve survivors in Providence, Cranston, Warwick, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, East Providence, Newport, Bristol, Smithfield, Lincoln, North Providence, East Greenwich, Westerly, Middletown, and Coventry. Each city page explains what we know about abuse in that community and how our attorneys can help.

We also understand that privacy is a major concern for survivors. Many people do not come forward because they fear public exposure. Rhode Island law allows survivors to file civil lawsuits anonymously in certain circumstances. Our page on Filing Anonymously: Jane Doe and John Doe Lawsuits in Rhode Island explains how this process works and what protections are available to you.

Taking the Next Step: Resources for Survivors and Their Families

Coming forward after sexual abuse is one of the hardest decisions a person can make. You may have questions, doubts, and fears. You may wonder whether what happened to you “counts” legally, or whether it is too late to do anything. We want to answer those questions honestly, without pressure and without judgment. Our resources are designed to help you make informed decisions at your own pace.

If you are not sure how to evaluate a sexual abuse attorney, our guide on How to Choose a Sexual Abuse Lawyer: The Four Questions walks you through exactly what to look for. If you have a loved one who is considering filing a claim and you want to support them without adding pressure, our page For Family Members: Supporting a Survivor Who Is Considering a Claim offers practical guidance.

For attorneys who have clients with Rhode Island abuse claims and are looking for experienced co-counsel, our page on Referring Attorneys and Co-Counsel for RI Revival Window Cases explains how we work with other law firms and how referral arrangements are structured.

The 2026 lookback window is open right now. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. That means time is genuinely limited. If you believe you have a claim, the best thing you can do is speak with an experienced Rhode Island sexual abuse attorney as soon as possible. Sommers Schwartz is ready to listen, and your consultation is completely confidential. Contact us today.