For a standard kidnapping of an adult under R.I.G.L. § 11-26-1, the statutory maximum is up to twenty years in prison. When the victim is a minor under the age of sixteen, the statute authorizes up to life in prison or an extended sentence, and parole eligibility is pushed out meaningfully. Sentencing enhancements can also stack when a firearm is used or displayed, when the kidnapping is committed with intent to extort or ransom, or when the conduct is part of a course of repeated domestic abuse. Custodial interference carries up to two years for a first offense and up to five years in aggravated circumstances. Unlawful restraint and false imprisonment carry significantly lower exposure. This is why the charging decision - which statute the prosecutor picks - often matters more than the ultimate plea or verdict.
