AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Edith Ajello and 9 co-sponsors

Removes the extra monetary assessment for prostitution convictions from the women’s community corrections program, reducing costs for participants and general revenue deposits.

06/24/2025 Signed by Governor

Purpose

HB 5357 modifies the statute establishing the Department of Corrections’ community correctional program for women (R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-56-20.3) by removing statutory provisions that assessed additional monetary penalties (costs) tied to prostitution-related convictions for women in that program. The overall community corrections framework for women remains intact.

Key provisions and changes

Maintains the statutory structure for a community correctional program for women: eligibility, referral by the DOC director, individualized plans (employment, education, housing, restitution, community service, counseling), program director responsibilities, required approvals by the DOC director and sentencing judge, supervision authority, and consequences for violations.

Removes the subsection that had required an additional assessment — applied in addition to other penalties — against defendants charged under the prostitution statutes (§ 11-34.1-1 et seq.) who plead guilty, nolo contendere, or are convicted. That assessment had been:

$500 for felony prostitution offenses, or 10% of any fine imposed, whichever was greater; and
$350 for misdemeanor prostitution offenses, or 10% of any fine imposed, whichever was greater.

The prior rules allowing a judge to suspend obligations on more than three counts and directing these assessments to general revenues are likewise eliminated for the program participants.

Who is affected

Primary: Women eligible for or participating in the community correctional program (those sentenced to two years or less or awaiting trial in the women's division).

Also affected: Defendants charged under Rhode Island’s prostitution statutes who would have been subject to the supplemental assessment, and state general revenues (loss of the deposits previously directed to general revenues).

Other DOC functions and private contractors used to operate the program are not altered in liability or operational authority by this bill.

Timeline and legislative actions

Introduced early 2025; referred to House Judiciary.

Committee recommended passage (05/22/2025).

Passed House (06/10/2025) and Senate concurrence (06/18/2025).

Transmitted to Governor (06/18/2025); signed into law (06/24/2025).

Effective upon passage (so provisions repealed as of the signing date).

Potential fiscal and policy implications

Reduces or eliminates a modest, previously collected revenue stream (assessments deposited to general revenues) tied to prostitution convictions of program participants. The magnitude depends on the number of convictions and assessments that would otherwise have been collected.

Lowers direct out-of-pocket costs imposed on women participating in the community corrections program, which may affect access to or compliance with community-based rehabilitation. The bill does not create alternate funding for program services or change fines, restitution, or other penalties not covered by the repealed assessment.

Bill