S 2824Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure - Criminal Injuries Compensation

Victims of hit-and-run accidents causing serious injury or death can now receive state compensation money.

Signed into law67 Yea0 Nay8 Not voting

Population
Affected

Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee Senate Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation updates the state's Criminal Injuries Compensation law. It adds a new category of offense that allows victims to qualify for financial compensation. Specifically, the bill includes cases where a driver fails to stop at the scene of an accident (hit-and-run) if that accident results in serious bodily injury or death to a person. This means victims of severe hit-and-run accidents or their families may now be eligible for state compensation funds previously reserved for victims of other violent crimes.

For younger readers

Sometimes, when bad things happen to people because of a crime, the government helps pay for their doctor bills or other needs. This is called compensation. Before, if a car hit someone and drove away without stopping, the person who got hurt might not get this help. This new rule says that if a driver hits someone and causes a very bad injury or death, and then drives away, the government can now help the victim or their family with money. It makes sure these victims are treated like victims of other crimes.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Hit-and-run victimsFamilies of deceased victimsOffice of Criminal Injuries CompensationDriversTaxpayers

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Expands the social safety net by providing essential financial support to victims of hit-and-run accidents, ensuring they are not left destitute by medical bills or lost wages.
Promotes social justice by recognizing victims of severe vehicular crimes as deserving of the same state support as victims of other violent crimes.
Alleviates the economic burden on working-class families who are statistically more likely to be pedestrians or rely on public transit, making them vulnerable to such accidents.
Fails to address the systemic infrastructure issues and car-centric urban planning that lead to pedestrian injuries and deaths in the first place.
Ties compensation to specific criminal classifications, potentially excluding victims where police fail to charge a driver or identify the perpetrator effectively.
Does not identify a new revenue source, raising concerns that expanding the pool of eligible claimants could dilute the funds available for other vulnerable crime victims.

For Conservatives

Supports law and order by formally recognizing the severity of hit-and-run offenses and ensuring victims are supported without lenient treatment of the offender.
Provides financial relief to innocent citizens harmed by criminal negligence, aligning with the principle that the justice system should serve the victim.
Utilizes existing administrative structures to deliver aid, avoiding the creation of entirely new government bureaucracies or departments.
Expands government spending and entitlement programs, potentially straining the state budget and leading to future tax increases to cover the costs.
Shifts the financial burden of traffic accidents from private insurance companies and responsible parties to the state and taxpayers.
Increases the scope of the administrative state, potentially inviting fraud or abuse of the compensation system by expanding eligibility criteria.

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.