S 2988Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure - Criminal Injuries Compensation

This bill adds a one-dollar fee to traffic violation fines to help fund the crime victims' compensation program.

Introduced37 Yea0 Nay0 Not voting

Population
Affected

Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends the funding sources for the state's violent crimes indemnity account. Currently, surcharges are assessed on felonies and misdemeanors to fund this account, which compensates victims of crime. This bill expands the assessment to include civil and criminal traffic violations, excluding parking tickets. Specifically, it mandates that one dollar ($1.00) associated with any fine imposed for a traffic violation be collected and transmitted to the crime victims’ compensation fund.

For younger readers

When people break the law, they usually have to pay money as a punishment. Some of that money goes into a special pot to help people who were hurt by criminals. Right now, this happens for serious crimes. This new rule says that when people get a ticket for breaking driving rules, like speeding, one dollar from that money will also go into the special pot to help victims. This does not apply to parking tickets, only to mistakes made while driving.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

DriversTraffic violatorsCrime victimsCourt clerksPolice departments

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

Traffic Violators: $1.00 per offense

Estimated revenue

Crime Victims' Compensation Fund: $1.00 per traffic violation fine

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Increases funding for the crime victims' compensation fund, ensuring that survivors of violent crimes have access to necessary financial support for recovery and medical expenses.
Diversifies the revenue stream for victim services, helping to maintain the solvency of the safety net for vulnerable community members who have been victimized.
Imposes a nominal fee structure that generates public funds for social services without significantly increasing the financial burden on low-income drivers compared to higher penalty increases.
Implements a regressive fee structure where low-income residents pay the same surcharge as wealthy individuals, disproportionately impacting those with the least ability to pay.
Could incentivize aggressive traffic enforcement and "policing for profit" in order to generate state revenue, which often targets marginalized and minority communities.
Expands the carceral state's financial reach by attaching additional fees to minor civil infractions, further entangling citizens in the legal system for non-violent behaviors.

For Conservatives

Strengthens the financial support system for victims of violent crime, ensuring the justice system prioritizes the needs of law-abiding citizens who have been harmed.
Adheres to the principle of personal responsibility by ensuring that those who violate the law, including traffic laws, contribute to the costs associated with the justice system.
Generates necessary revenue for victim compensation without increasing broad-based taxes on the general public, shifting the cost burden to offenders.
Represents a "hidden tax" on drivers, expanding government revenue collection through fee hikes on minor infractions rather than cutting spending.
Risks turning police officers into tax collectors for the state, potentially distracting them from their primary duty of preventing serious crime and maintaining order.
Increases the administrative burden on the court system to collect and process nominal fees, potentially creating more bureaucracy and inefficiency.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 7 additions · 1 deletion

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 12-25-28 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25 entitled "Criminal Injuries Compensation" is hereby amended to read as follows: 12-25-28. Special indemnity account for criminal injuries compensation.

(a) It is provided that the general treasurer establish a violent crimes indemnity account within the general fund for the purpose of paying awards granted pursuant to this chapter. The court shall assess as court costs in addition to those provided by law, against all defendants charged with a felony, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor, or traffic violation, whether or not the crime was a crime of violence, and who plead nolo contendere, guilty or who are found guilty of the commission of those crimes as follows:

(1) Where the offense charged is a felony and carries a maximum penalty of five (5) or more years imprisonment, one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) or fifteen percent (15%) of any fine imposed on the defendant by the court, whichever is greater.

(2) Where the offense charged is a felony and carries a maximum penalty of less than five

(5) years imprisonment, ninety dollars ($90.00) or fifteen percent (15%) of any fine imposed on the defendant by the court, whichever is greater.

(3) Where the offense charged is a misdemeanor, thirty dollars ($30.00) or fifteen percent (15%) of any fine imposed on the defendant by the court, whichever is greater.

(4) Where the offense charged is a civil or criminal traffic violation, one dollar ($1.00) of any fine imposed on the defendant per charged offense, exclusive of fines imposed for violations relating to parking of vehicles. The clerks of courts for each municipality shall collect any fine levied under this subsection and shall transmit the collected surcharges within thirty (30) days to the crime victims’ compensation fund.

(b) These costs shall be assessed whether or not the defendant is sentenced to prison and in no case shall they be waived by the court unless the court finds an inability to pay.

(c) When there are multiple counts or multiple charges to be disposed of simultaneously, the judge shall have the authority to suspend the obligation of the defendant to pay on all counts or charges above two (2).

(d) Up to fifteen percent (15%) of the state funds raised under this section, as well as federal matching funds, shall be available to pay administrative expenses necessary to operate this program. Federal funds for this purpose shall not supplant currently available state funds, as required by federal law.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect one year after passage.