2017 -- H 6161

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

     

     Introduced By: Representative Gregg Amore

     Date Introduced: April 27, 2017

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 12 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL PROCEDURE" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 33

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CLAIMS FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT

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     12-33-1. Legislative intent. -- (a) The general assembly finds that innocent persons who

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have been mistakenly convicted of crimes through no fault of their own or the state have been

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uniquely victimized and are deserving of consideration and remuneration for this miscarriage of

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justice.

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     (b) For purposes of this chapter, a mistaken conviction is a finding of guilt by a jury or

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judge, later proven incorrect, which results in incarceration for more than one year.

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     (c) For purposes of this chapter, a mistaken conviction is not a finding of guilty by a jury

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or judge later determined to be the result of misfeasance or malfeasance by the state or any of its

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political subdivisions.

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     12-33-2. Statement of claim for compensation. -- (a) In order to present an actionable

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claim pursuant to this chapter, the claimant must establish by documentary evidence that:

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     (1) Claimant has been convicted of one or more crimes and, as a result of said conviction,

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was sentenced to a term of imprisonment and has served all or part of said sentence; and

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     (2) On grounds not inconsistent with innocence:

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     (i) Claimant was pardoned of the crime or crimes upon which claimant was sentenced

 

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and which are the grounds for the complaint; or

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     (ii) The judgment of conviction was vacated; or

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     (iii) The judgment of conviction was reversed; and

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     (iv) The accusatory instrument was dismissed, and

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     (3) The claim is not time-barred by the provisions of this chapter.

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     (b) The claims shall be verified by the claimant; and

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     (c) If the court determines after an examination of the claim that the claimant has not

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alleged sufficient facts to succeed at trial it shall dismiss the claim, either on its own motion or on

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the state's motion.

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     12-33-3. Presentation of claim. -- All claims of mistaken conviction and imprisonment

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under this chapter shall be presented to and heard by the presiding justice of the superior court.

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     12-33-4. Judgment and award. -- (a) In order to obtain a judgment in their favor, the

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claimant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that:

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     (1) Claimant was convicted of one or more crimes and subsequently sentenced to a term

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of imprisonment for more than one year, and has served all or any part of the sentence; and

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     (i) Claimant has been pardoned for the crime or crimes upon which claimant was

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sentenced and which are the grounds for the complaint; or

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     (ii) Claimant's judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, and the accusatory

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instrument was dismissed, and

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     (2) Claimant did not commit any of the crimes charged in the accusatory instrument; and

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     (3) Claimant did not commit or suborn perjury, or fabricate evidence to cause or bring

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about their own conviction; and

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     (4) Claimant was incarcerated solely for the crimes they were mistakenly convicted of

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and was not serving another sentence concurrently or as a result of an enhancement from a

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previous conviction.

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     (b) If the court finds that the claimant was mistakenly convicted and incarcerated

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pursuant to this section the court shall grant:

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      (1) An award for mistaken conviction and incarceration calculated at the state's median

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single person income at the time of release and paid for each year and portion of year served in a

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correctional facility. The award may be expanded to include, at the discretion of the court in the

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interest of justice:

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     (i) Release from any child support payments owed the state by the claimant that became

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due, and interest on child support arrearages that accrued, during the time served in prison but

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were not paid as well as reasonable attorney's fees where legal proceedings are required to

 

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remedy outstanding obligations resulting from an order to pay child support;

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     (ii) Compensation for any reasonable costs, not exceeding the pro rata award, incurred by

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the claimant for immediate services secured upon exoneration and release; including housing,

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transportation, subsistence, re-integrative services, and mental and physical health care costs

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incurred by the claimant for the time period between the claimant's release from wrongful

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incarceration and the date of claimant's award; and

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     (iii) Reasonable attorney's fees for bringing a claim under this chapter calculated at a rate

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of fifteen percent (15%) of the total amount awarded. Any such fees granted shall not be deducted

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from the compensation due the claimant, nor is counsel entitled to receive additional fees from

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the client.

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     (c) No damages or amounts awarded pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to:

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     (1) Any cap or limit that may be applicable to private parties in civil lawsuits;

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     (2) Any taxes, except for those portions of the judgment awarded as attorney's fees for

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bringing a claim under this chapter; or

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     (3) Treatment as gross income to a claimant under the provisions of title 44.

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     (d) The acceptance by a claimant of any such award, compromise, or settlement shall:

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     (1) Be memorialized in writing;

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     (2) Act to release the state and any of its political subdivisions from any other action

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arising out of the mistaken conviction and incarceration of the claimant; and

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     (3) Except when procured by fraud, be final and conclusive on the claimant.

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     (e) The court shall, upon determining that the claimant is entitled to compensation under

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this chapter, forward to the general treasurer an inventory and description of the award, including

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any attorney's fees awarded, for disbursement.

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     12-33-5. Funding. -- Any awards, amounts, or fees awarded pursuant to the provisions of

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this chapter shall, at the direction of the court, be provided by the general treasurer from the

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general fund.

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     12-33-6. Non-exclusivity. -- The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to

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prohibit a person who has been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated as a result of the

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misfeasance or malfeasance on the part of the state or any of its political subdivisions from

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seeking compensation or relief pursuant to any other action or suit authorized by law.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

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     This act would create an action at law authorizing any person who has been sentenced to

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a term of imprisonment greater than one year subsequent to being wrongfully convicted of a

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criminal offense to petition the presiding justice of the superior court for an award of

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compensation and damages, including attorney's fees.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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