Rhode Island § 12-13-23 - Bail and Recognizance

§ 12-13-23. Bail and bail bonds — Examination for sufficiency.

(a) Following the posting of a bail bond and the justifying affidavit or affidavits or the posting of cash bail, the court may conduct an inquiry for the purpose of determining the reliability of the obligors or person posting cash bail, the value and sufficiency of any security offered, and whether any feature of the undertaking contravenes public policy; provided, that before undertaking an inquiry of a person posting cash bail, the court, after application of the attorney general, must have had reasonable cause to believe that the person posting cash bail is not in rightful possession of money posted as cash bail or that the money constitutes the fruits of criminal or unlawful conduct. The court may inquire into any matter stated or required to be stated in the justifying affidavits, and may also inquire into other matters appropriate to the determination, which includes, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) The background, character and reputation of any obligor, and, in the case of a professional bondsperson, the qualifications of the surety-obligor and its executing agent;

(2) The source of any money or property delivered or agreed to be delivered by any obligor as security, and whether any of the money or property constitutes the fruits of criminal or unlawful conduct;

(3) The source of any money or property delivered or agreed to be delivered to any obligor as indemnification on the bond, and whether any of the money or property constitutes the fruits of criminal or unlawful conduct;

(4) The background, character and reputation of any person who had indemnified or agreed to indemnify an obligor upon the bond; and whether any the indemnitor, not being approved and registered by the superior court as a professional bondsperson, has within a period of two (2) months prior to the indemnity transaction given indemnification or security for the same purpose in more than two cases not arising out of the same transaction;

(5) The source of any money posted as cash bail, and whether any of the money constitutes the fruits of criminal or unlawful conduct; and

(6) The background, character and reputation of the person posting cash bail.

(b) Upon the inquiry provided in subsection (a) of this section, the court may examine, under oath or otherwise, the obligors and any other persons who may possess material information. The attorney general has a right to attend the inquiry, to call witnesses, and to examine any witness in the proceeding. The court may, upon request of the attorney general, adjourn the proceeding for a reasonable period to allow him or her to investigate the matter.

(c) At the conclusion of the inquiry, the court must issue an order either approving or disapproving the bail.