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H 7585Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure - Criminal Injuries Compensation

This bill allows victims of serious hit-and-run accidents to receive financial compensation from the state's crime victim fund.

Signed into law38 Yea0 Nay0 Not voting
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 6, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation expands the eligibility for the Rhode Island Criminal Injuries Compensation program. Currently, the state provides financial assistance to victims of specific violent crimes. This bill adds "failure to stop" by a driver (commonly known as a hit-and-run) to the list of eligible offenses, provided the incident resulted in serious bodily injury or death. This ensures that victims of severe hit-and-run accidents, or their families, can apply for state compensation to help cover costs associated with the injury or loss of life, similar to victims of assault or homicide.

For younger readers

Sometimes, a driver might hit a person with their car and drive away without helping. This is very wrong and against the law. The government has a special fund—like a piggy bank—to help people who are hurt by crimes pay for doctors and medicine. Before this bill, people hurt by hit-and-run drivers couldn't always use that money. Now, this new rule says that if a driver hits someone and hurts them very badly, the government can use that special fund to help the injured person get better.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Victims of hit-and-run accidentsFamilies of deceased victimsPedestrians and cyclistsOffice of Criminal Injuries CompensationPersonal injury attorneys
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Strengthens the social safety net by ensuring victims of vehicular crimes, who are often pedestrians or cyclists and may be from marginalized communities, have access to financial support for recovery.
  • Acknowledges the severity of vehicular violence, validating the pain and suffering of victims and families who have been historically overlooked by the justice system compared to victims of other violent crimes.
  • Reduces the financial burden on working-class families who might otherwise face bankruptcy or severe debt due to medical bills resulting from a crime where the perpetrator fled the scene.
  • Does not address the root causes of dangerous driving or the need for systemic infrastructure reform to prevent accidents from happening in the first place.
  • If the compensation fund is financed through court fees and fines, it relies on a regressive revenue source that disproportionately impacts the poor within the criminal justice system.
  • Without an increase in total funding for the program, expanding the pool of eligible applicants could potentially dilute the resources available for victims of other violent crimes.
For Conservatives
  • Supports a "law and order" approach by formally recognizing hit-and-run offenses as severe crimes worthy of state attention and victim support.
  • Utilizes an existing government framework to deliver aid, avoiding the creation of new departments or bureaucracies to handle this specific issue.
  • Ensures that innocent citizens who are harmed by law-breakers are not left financially destitute, promoting a sense of justice and community stability.
  • Expands government spending and state handouts, potentially increasing the burden on the taxpayer if the fund's dedicated revenue sources are insufficient.
  • Increases the scope of government involvement in private insurance matters, as these costs are typically handled by auto insurance policies rather than state funds.
  • Could lead to potential fraud or abuse of the system if claims regarding "serious bodily injury" are not rigorously vetted by the oversight office.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 3 additions

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 12-25-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25 entitled "Criminal Injuries Compensation" is hereby amended to read as follows: 12-25-20. Offenses to which chapter applies. The office may award compensation in accordance with the provisions of this chapter for personal injury or death which resulted from offenses in the following categories:

(1) Assault with intent to commit murder, robbery, or rape;

(2) Assault with a dangerous weapon;

(3) Assault and battery;

(4) Mayhem;

(5) Indecent assault and battery on a child under thirteen (13) years of age;

(6) Arson or statutory burning;

(7) Kidnapping;

(8) Robbery or larceny from that person;

(9) Murder;

(10) Manslaughter;

(11) First or second degree sexual assault;

(12) Child molestation, first or second degree;

(13) The abominable and detestable crime against nature or assault with intent to commit the abominable and detestable crime against nature;

(14) Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

(15) Refusal by a driver to submit to a chemical test for alcohol or drugs in the immediate aftermath of a collision;

(16) Driving so as to endanger, resulting in death, pursuant to § 31-27-1;

(17) Driving so as to endanger, resulting in personal injury, pursuant to § 31-27-1.1;

(18) Any other crime excluding motor vehicle offenses other than those enumerated in this section which results in personal injury or death; and

(19) Failure to stop by a driver in circumstances which result in the serious bodily injury or death of any person, pursuant to § 31-26-1.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.