2021 -- H 5470

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LC001471

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

     Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Amore, Ackerman, Nardone, McEntee, and Place

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2021

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 12 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL PROCEDURE" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 33

CLAIMS FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT

     12-33-1. Legislative intent.

     (a) The general assembly finds that innocent persons who have been wrongfully convicted

of crimes through no fault of their own have been uniquely victimized, and are deserving of

consideration and remuneration for this miscarriage of justice.

     (b) For the purposes of this chapter, a “wrongful conviction" is a finding of guilt by a jury

or judge, later proven incorrect, which results in incarceration for more than one year.

     12-33-2. Statement of claim for compensation.

     (a) In order to present an actionable claim pursuant to this chapter, the claimant must

establish by documentary evidence that:

     (1) Claimant has been convicted of one or more crimes and, as a result of the conviction,

was sentenced to a term of imprisonment and has served all or part of said sentence; and

     (2) On grounds not inconsistent with innocence:

     (i) Claimant was pardoned of the crime or crimes upon which claimant was sentenced and

which are the grounds for the complaint;

     (ii) The judgment of conviction was vacated;

     (iii) The judgment of conviction was reversed;

     (iv) The accusatory instrument was dismissed; and

     (3) The claim is not time-barred by the provisions of this chapter.

     (b) The claims shall be verified by the claimant; and

     (c) If the court determines after an examination of the claim that the claimant has not

alleged sufficient facts to succeed at trial it shall dismiss the claim, either on its own motion or on

the state’s motion.

     12-33-3. Presentation of claim.

     All claims of wrongful conviction and imprisonment under this chapter shall be presented

to and heard by the presiding justice of the superior court.

     12-33-4. Judgment and award.

     (a) In order to obtain a judgment in their favor, the claimant must prove by a preponderance

of the evidence that:

     (1) Claimant was convicted of one or more crimes, and subsequently sentenced to a term

of imprisonment for more than one year, and has served all or any part of the sentence; and

     (i) Claimant has been pardoned for the crime or crimes upon which claimant was sentenced,

and which are the grounds for the complaint; or

     (ii) Claimant’s judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated and the accusatory

instrument was dismissed; and

     (2) Claimant did not commit any of the crimes charged in the accusatory instrument; and

     (3) Claimant did not commit or suborn perjury, or fabricate evidence to cause or bring

about their own conviction.

     (4) Neither a confession nor an admission later found to be false or a guilty plea shall

constitute committing or suborning perjury, fabricating evidence or causing or bringing about the

conviction under this subsection.

     (b) If the court finds that the claimant was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated pursuant

to this section the court shall grant:

     (1) An award for wrongful conviction and incarceration calculated at fifty thousand dollars

($50,000) at the time of release and paid for each year served in a correctional facility. For

incarceration of less than a year, this amount shall be prorated to one three hundred fifty-sixth

(1/365) of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for every day served. The award may be expanded to

include, at the discretion of the court, in the interest of justice:

     (i) Release from any child support payments owed the state by the claimant that became

due, and interest on child support arrearages that accrued, during the time served in prison but were

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not paid as well as reasonable attorneys’ fees where legal proceedings are required to remedy

outstanding obligations resulting from an order to pay child support;

     (ii) Access to and eligibility for any services provided by the state for offenders who have

been adjudicated by the courts and are residing in the community. Coordination of said services

shall be through the department of probation and parole;

     (iii) Reasonable attorneys' fees for bringing a claim under this chapter, not to exceed fifteen

thousand dollars ($15,000). Any such fees granted shall not be deducted from the compensation

due to the claimant, nor is counsel entitled to receive additional fees from the client.

     (c) No damages or amounts awarded pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to:

     (1) Any cap or limit that may be applicable to private parties in civil lawsuits;

     (2) Any taxes, except for those portions of the judgment awarded as attorneys’ fees for

bringing a claim under this chapter; or

     (3) Treatment as gross income to a claimant under the provisions of title 44.

     (d) The claimant shall not receive compensation for any period of incarceration during

which the claimant was concurrently serving a sentence for a conviction of another crime for which

such claimant was lawfully incarcerated.

     (e) The acceptance by a claimant of any such award, compromise, or settlement shall:

     (1) Be memorialized in writing;

     (2) Except when procured by fraud, be final and conclusive on the claimant.

     (f) The court shall, upon determining that the claimant is entitled to compensation under

this chapter, forward to the general treasurer an inventory and description of the award, including

any attorneys’ fees awarded, for disbursement.

     (g)(1) If at the time of the judgment entry referred to in subsection (b) of this section, the

claimant has won a monetary award on or after the effective date of this statute as the result of a

federal civil rights lawsuit under federal statute 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the amount of the award in the

action or the amount received in the settlement agreement, less any sums paid to attorneys or for

costs litigating the other civil action or obtaining the settlement agreement, shall be deducted from

the sum of money to which the claimant is entitled under this section.

     (2) If subsection (g)(1) of this section does not apply and if, after the time of the judgment

entry referred to in subsection (b) of this section, the claimant wins a monetary award as the result

of a federal civil rights lawsuit under federal statute 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the claimant shall reimburse

the state for the sum of money paid under the judgment entry referred to in subsection (b) of this

section, less any sums paid to attorneys or for costs in litigation of the other civil action or obtaining

the settlement agreement. A reimbursement required under this subsection shall not exceed the

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amount of the monetary award the claimant wins for damages in the other civil action or the amount

received in the settlement agreement.

     12-33-5. Funding.

     Any awards, amounts, or fees awarded pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall, at

the direction of the court be provided by the general treasurer from the general fund.

     12-33-6. Non-exclusivity.

     The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to prohibit a person who has been

wrongfully convicted and incarcerated as a result of the misfeasance or malfeasance on the part of

the state or any of its political subdivisions from seeking compensation or relief pursuant to any

other action or suit authorized by law.

     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

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     This act would create an action at law authorizing any person who has been sentenced to a

term of imprisonment greater than one year subsequent to being wrongfully convicted of a criminal

offense to petition the presiding justice of the superior court for an award of compensation and

damages, including attorneys' fees.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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