2023 -- H 5563

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LC001043

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Felix, McEntee, Batista, Craven, Kislak, Alzate, Cruz,
Potter, Morales, and Henries

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 12-13-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-13 entitled "Bail and

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Recognizance" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-13-1. Right to release pending trial on giving of recognizance.

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     (a) Felony cases. Every person who is held on any criminal process to answer to any

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indictment, information, or complaint against him or her shall be released upon giving recognizance

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with sufficient surety or sureties before a justice of the supreme or superior court or before a justice

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of the district court, when the complaint is pending in that court or the person is held to answer to

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that court, in the sum named in the process, if any has been named in it, and if none is named, then

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in any sum that the justice shall deem reasonable, to appear before the court where the indictment,

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information, or complaint is pending against him or her, or to which he or she may be bound over

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to appear, to answer to the indictment, information, or complaint, and to answer to it whenever

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called upon so to do, and abide the final order of the court, and in the meantime keep the peace and

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be of good behavior. Any justice may take the recognizance in any place within the state, and the

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recognizance shall be returned to the court to which the accused has recognized to appear.

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     (b) Misdemeanor cases:

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     (1) Every person who is subject to any misdemeanor criminal process shall be released

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without bail but on their own recognizance and an order to abide by any conditions set by the court.

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     (2) Release on non-monetary conditions shall be applied to assure the presence of the

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accused in court as required and to protect the safety of the community.

 

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     (c) In every case, the setting of bail and conditions shall be subject to § 12-13-1.3(e).

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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 -- BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCE

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     This act would prohibit the courts from setting cash or surety bail on any misdemeanor

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offense but would permit the court to set reasonable non-monetary conditions of bail to assure the

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defendant’s presence in court as required and to protect the community.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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