# Arlene Violet

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First elected female state Attorney General

Arlene Violet Attorney General of Rhode Island In office January 1, 1985 – January 1987 Governor Edward D. DiPrete Preceded by Dennis Roberts Succeeded by James O'Neil Personal details Born 1943 (age 82–83) Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. Party Republican (formerly) Independent Education Providence College Salve Regina University (BA) Boston College (JD)

**Arlene Violet** (born 1943) is an American politician. She was a [religious sister](/source/Religious_sister) in the [Sisters of Mercy](/source/Sisters_of_Mercy)[1] and [Attorney General of Rhode Island](/source/Attorney_General_of_Rhode_Island) 1985–1987. She was the first female [Attorney General](/source/Attorney_General) elected in the United States.[2][3]

## Biography

Arlene Violet was born into a middle class [Republican–voting](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))[1] family in [Providence, Rhode Island](/source/Providence%2C_Rhode_Island). After attending [Providence College](/source/Providence_College), she entered [Sisters of Mercy](/source/Sisters_of_Mercy) convent in 1961, taking her final vows in 1969. Violet said she joined the convent because "I wanted to do something with my life and try to make a difference, and I saw nuns as the people who could make that difference."[4]

Violet later earned a bachelor's degree from [Salve Regina University](/source/Salve_Regina_University) and was a school teacher in a disadvantaged neighborhood in the early 1970s. Becoming interested in law, she enrolled at [Boston College Law School](/source/Boston_College_Law_School), graduating in 1974. During her schooling, she clerked in the judge's chambers and did an internship in the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office. Due to financial difficulties at the convent, she left her legal work and returned to the convent, serving as an administrative nun through the early 1980s.[2]

## Attorney General of Rhode Island

In 1982 she ran unsuccessfully for Attorney General. But when she ran again in 1984, Violet won the election, becoming the first elected female attorney general in the United States.[2] During her time in office she focused on organized crime, environmental issues, and victims’ rights.[2] She also pushed for banking reform.[5]

### RISDIC

Shortly after taking office in 1984 Violet learned that the Rhode Island Share and Deposit Indemnity Corporation (RISDIC), a government chartered but private (similar to Amtrak) insurance fund meant to protect the state banking system, was "woefully underfunded" with only $25 million in reserves.[5] She found that RISDIC was making loans to politically connected people without any personal guarantees.[5] Violet pushed for legislation to require Rhode Island banks to be federally insured, but this was voted down.[5] Violet warned that the banking system in Rhode Island was "a house of cards."[5] Four years later, Rhode Island faced [a run on the banks](/source/Rhode_Island_banking_crisis), and in January 1991, newly elected Governor [Bruce Sundlun](/source/Bruce_Sundlun) declared a bank emergency.[5]

### Other achievements

One of her innovations was to use videotape interviews of child victims rather than direct testimony.[2] She also won recognition for reopening the [Von Bülow case](/source/Claus_von_B%C3%BClow).[6]

Violet lost her reelection bid in 1986 and her term ended.[7][5]

## Life after politics

After leaving office, Violet returned to prosecuting, taught environmental law at [Brown University](/source/Brown_University), ran a talk show on [WHJJ](/source/WHJJ) Radio from 1990 to 2006, and writes a weekly political column. She has written two books *Convictions: My Journey from the Convent to the Courtroom* (1988), an autobiography, and *The Mob and Me* (2010) a book about the witness protection program. She also drafted a manual on search seizure law.[2] She was inducted into the [Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame](/source/Rhode_Island_Heritage_Hall_of_Fame_Women_Inductees) in 1996.[8]

She wrote a musical, *The Family, A Musical Drama About the Mob*, with composer and lyricist, [Enrico Garzilli](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Enrico_Garzilli&action=edit&redlink=1), which premiered by special arrangement with Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, RI in June 2011.

## See also

- [List of female state attorneys general in the United States](/source/List_of_female_state_attorneys_general_in_the_United_States)

## Notes and references

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Butterfield_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Butterfield_1-1) Butterfield, Fox (January 20, 1984). ["Rhode Island Nun Quits Her Order to Run for Attorney General"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150524154549/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/20/us/rhode-island-nun-quits-her-order-to-run-for-attorney-general.html). *The New York Times*. New York City, New York. Archived from [the original](https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/20/us/rhode-island-nun-quits-her-order-to-run-for-attorney-general.html) on May 24, 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Weatherford_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Weatherford_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Weatherford_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Weatherford_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Weatherford_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Weatherford_2-5) Weatherford, Doris (2012). [*Women in American Politics: History and Milestones*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wW5wumFHKSEC&pg=SL11-PA76). Los Angeles, California: CQ Press. pp. 76–77. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-60871-007-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-60871-007-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-caw_3-0)** [Rutgers, Center for American Women And Politics (accessed 5/23/2007)](http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/Facts/firsts.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070530043444/http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/Facts/firsts.html) May 30, 2007, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Crimetown_4-0)** ["Chapter Thirteen: The Network"](http://www.crimetownshow.com/transcripts/2017/3/19/chapter-thirteen-the-network). *[Crimetown](/source/Crimetown)*. [Gimlet Media](/source/Gimlet_Media). Retrieved 20 March 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ProJo20170320_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ProJo20170320_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ProJo20170320_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ProJo20170320_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-ProJo20170320_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-ProJo20170320_5-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-ProJo20170320_5-6) Bramson, Kate (19 March 2017). ["Crimetown Episode 13 review: Arlene Violet's doomed battle and the R.I. banking crisis"](http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170319/crimetown-episode-13-review-arlene-violets-doomed-battle-and-ri-banking-crisis). [The Providence Journal](/source/The_Providence_Journal). Retrieved 20 March 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-von_Bulow_6-0)** ["Lawyers for Von Bulow Challenge Rhode Island on Trial Preparation"](https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/22/us/lawyers-for-von-bulow-challenge-rhode-island-on-trial-preparation.html). *The New York Times*. New York City, New York. May 22, 1985. Retrieved 28 December 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-office_terms_7-0)** ["State Fact Sheet - Rhode Island"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151228003825/http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/state_fact_sheets/ri). Rutgers University, New Jersey: Eagleton Institute of Politics. 2015. Archived from [the original](http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/state_fact_sheets/ri) on 28 December 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Rhode_Island_Heritage_Hall_of_Fame_8-0)** ["Arlene Violet"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151227191336/http://www.riheritagehalloffame.org/inductees_detail.cfm?crit=det&iid=43). Providence, Rhode Island: Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. 1996. Archived from [the original](http://www.riheritagehalloffame.org/inductees_detail.cfm?crit=det&iid=43) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.

## External links

- ["Chapter Thirteen: The Network"](http://www.crimetownshow.com/episodes-1/2017/3/15/chapter-thirteen). *[Crimetown](/source/Crimetown)*. Gimlet Media. Retrieved 20 March 2017. Includes photos and interview with Arlene Violet

## Bibliography

- Weatherford, Doris (2012). [*Women in American Politics: History and Milestones*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wW5wumFHKSEC&pg=SL11-PA76). Los Angeles, California: CQ Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-60871-007-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-60871-007-2).

Party political offices Preceded by Ronald J. Perillo Republican nominee for Attorney General of Rhode Island 1982, 1984, 1986 Succeeded by Kathleen Voccola Political offices Preceded by Dennis Roberts Attorney General of Rhode Island 1985–1987 Succeeded by James O'Neil

v t e Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame Women Inductees 1960s 1966 Glenna Collett Vare 1967 Eileen Farrell Ruth Hussey 1968 E. Doris Brennan Paula Deubel Carole Garnett-Wheeler Clara LaMore Janet Moreau Albina Osipowich Lois Ann Testa 1969 JoAnne Carner June Rockwell Levy Mary Tucker Thorp 1970s 1970 Jean Madeira 1971 Ruth Buzzi Ida Silverman 1972 Margaret F. Ackroyd 1975 Catherine S. Robinson 1977 Gertrude Meth Hochberg Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones 1978 Antoinette Downing Frances G. Knight Princess Red Wing 1980s 1980 Diane L. Coutu Florence K. Murray 1981 Anna Tucker Katherine Urquhart Warren 1982 Eleanor Slater 1983 Katharine Gibbs 1985 Olive F. Wiley 1986 Eleanor M. McMahon 1987 Sister Mary Bernard Sister Eileen Murphy 1988 Marion F. Avarista 1990s 1990 Ade Bethune 1991 Gladys Williams Brayton 1992 Mary P. Brennan Nancy A. J. Potter 1993 Mary Crowley Mulvey 1994 Lizzie Murphy Barbara-Jeanne Seabury 1996 Helen A. Bert Catherine Tilley Hammett Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf Arlene Violet 1997 Mary Dyer Sylvia Hassenfeld Anne Hutchinson Margaret Langdon-Kelly Maria Spacagna 1998 Helen Metcalf Danforth Ann Smith Franklin Sarah Updike Goddard 1999 Beatrice Oenslager Chace 2000s 2000 Doris Holloway Abels 2001 Prudence Crandall Doris Duke Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Harriet Ware 2002 Elizabeth Buffum Chace Leona McElroy Kelly Mary Francis Xavier Warde Catharine R. Williams 2003 Christiana Carteaux Bannister Paulina Kellogg Wright Davis Julia Ward Howe Victoria Lederberg 2004 Sara DeCosta-Hayes Lynne Jewell Helen Johns Katie King-Crowley Frances Harriet Whipple Green McDougall Harriet Metcalf Aileen Riggin Lila Sapinsley Sarah Helen Whitman 2005 Sarah Elizabeth Doyle Norma Ann Garnett Ida Lewis Alice A. Sullivan 2006 Therese Antone Nancy Gewirtz Barbara H. Roberts 2007 Anna Garlin Spencer Mary Emma Woolley 2008 Maud Howe Elliott Marjorie Joy Vogel 2009 Annie Smith Peck 2010s 2010 Kathleen S. Connell Susan Farmer Caroline Hazard 2011 Jane Stuart 2012 Karen Adams Eileen Slocum Mary C. Wheeler 2013 Wilma Briggs Billie Ann Burrill Martha McSally Lucy Rawlings Tootell 2014 Catherine O'Reilly Collette Isabelle Ahearn O'Neill Abby Aldrich Rockefeller 2015 Noreen Stonor Drexel Gertrude I. Johnson Margaret McKenna Mary T. Wales 2016 Pauline Maier Patricia R. Recupero Betty R. Vohr 2017 Sarah J. Eddy Marie Rode Ferron Louisa Sharpe Metcalf 2018 Holly Patrice Wood 2019 Sister Mary Reilly Rose E. Weaver 2020s 2020 Sara MacCormack Algeo Roberta Dunbar Bertha G. Higgins Maria Kindberg Ingeborg Kindstedt Sophia R. Little Fanny Purdy Palmer Anna W. Spenser Lillie Buffum Chace Wyman

Authority control databases SNAC

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arlene Violet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlene_Violet) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlene_Violet?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.