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S 3263Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure - Criminal Injuries Compensation

This bill updates the criminal injuries compensation program by removing outdated language and adding emergency relocation compensation for stalking victims.

Signed into law69 Yea0 Nay6 Not voting
Population
Affected
8
Email Legislator
Introduced May 5, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This bill updates the state's Criminal Injuries Compensation law, which provides financial assistance to victims of certain crimes. It removes outdated language regarding "crimes against nature" and removes larceny from the list of eligible offenses. Importantly, it adds stalking to the list of crimes eligible for compensation. For stalking victims, the state can now provide emergency compensation to help them relocate or make reasonable safety modifications to their homes. However, stalking victims are limited to these specific relocation and modification expenses unless they also suffered from another eligible crime.

For younger readers

Sometimes, when people are hurt by criminals, the state gives them money to help pay for things like doctors or moving to a safer place. This bill changes the rules about who can get this help. It says that people who are stalked—which means someone is following them and making them feel very scared—can now get money to help them move to a new house or put new locks on their doors. It also removes some old rules that aren't used anymore.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Victims of stalkingVictims of theftSecondary victims of crime
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. The bill simply amends the eligibility criteria for a state-funded compensation program, which falls well within the legislature's power to appropriate funds and define statutory benefits. It does not infringe upon free speech, due process, or protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Expands the social safety net by providing critical financial assistance to victims of stalking, empowering them to escape dangerous situations and secure safe housing.
  • Removes archaic, historically homophobic language ("abominable and detestable crime against nature") from state law, advancing social justice and legal inclusivity.
  • Directly supports the welfare of vulnerable community members by funding tangible safety measures, such as home modifications and emergency relocation.
  • Explicitly denies stalking victims access to compensation for mental health counseling or psychiatric care unless they were also the victim of another compensable offense, leaving a gap in holistic victim support.
  • Removes "larceny from the person" from the list of eligible offenses, which reduces the financial safety net for individuals who are victims of theft.
  • Fails to increase the maximum compensation limits or address broader systemic funding issues within the violent crimes indemnity account.
For Conservatives
  • Places strict limitations on the types of compensation stalking victims can receive, preventing potential abuse of government funds for unrelated medical or personal expenses.
  • Eliminates compensation for victims of larceny, reducing the overall burden on taxpayer-funded government assistance programs.
  • Supports a law-and-order agenda by directly assisting victims of crime in securing their private property and protecting themselves from further criminal acts.
  • Expands government assistance programs by creating a new category of compensation for stalking victims, potentially increasing state expenditures.
  • Removes traditional morality-based language ("abominable and detestable crime against nature") from the state's legal code, which may disappoint those who embrace traditional social values.
  • Uses public funds to pay for private personal expenses like residential modifications and relocation, which some conservatives might argue should be an individual responsibility.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 8 additions · 4 deletions

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Sections 12-25-20 and 12-25-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25 entitled "Criminal Injuries Compensation" are 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 Stalking pursuant to § 11-59-2;

(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 death of any person, pursuant to § 31-26-1. 12-25-21. Nature of compensation.

(a) The office may award compensation under this chapter for:

(1) Expenses actually and reasonably incurred as a result of the personal injury or death of the victim;

(2) Pecuniary loss to the dependents of the deceased victim;

(3) Any other pecuniary loss resulting from the personal injury or death of the victim, the amount of which the office finds upon the evidence to be reasonable and necessary;

(4) The administrator may issue a supplemental award for compensation for additional medical expenses, including psychiatric care and mental health counseling, provided that the victim provides proper documentation that the additional medical expenses have been actually and reasonably incurred as a direct result of the personal injury. The administrator shall issue a supplemental award as long as the total award does not exceed the maximum award allowable under this chapter;

(5) The administrator may issue an award for expenses related to psychiatric care and mental health counseling for a parent, spouse, sibling or child of a victim who dies as a direct result of a violent crime as defined in this chapter, provided that the parent, spouse, sibling or child provide proper documentation that the psychiatric care and mental health counseling have been actually and reasonably incurred as a direct result of the death of the victim; and

(6) The administrator may issue an award for expenses related to psychiatric care and mental health counseling for a secondary victim, provided that the secondary victim provides proper documentation that the psychiatric care and mental health counseling have been actually and reasonably incurred as a direct result of witnessing the homicide of a victim or the domestic violence incident against a victim. An award issued to a secondary victim for psychiatric care and mental health counseling shall not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) and shall not be paid upon a secondary victim reaching the age of eighteen (18); and

(7) Where an individual has been the victim of stalking, the administrator may only award emergency compensation for relocation or for reasonable modifications to a victim’s residence under § 12-25-21.1. Victims of stalking shall not be entitled to compensation for any other expense unless they were the victim of another compensable offense under § 12-25-20.

(b) In determining the amount of the judgment or order approving a settlement, the office shall take into consideration the rates and amounts payable for injuries and death under other statutes of this state and of the United States, and the amount of revenue in the violent crimes indemnity account and the number and nature of claims pending against it. The office shall make every effort to ensure that compensation awards are paid within six (6) months of the date of application.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.