Rhode Island § 13-8-14 - Parole

§ 13-8-14. Release criteria.

(a) A permit shall not be issued to any prisoner under the authority of §§ 13-8-9 -13-8-13 unless it shall appear to the parole board:

(1) That the prisoner has substantially observed the rules of the institution in which confined, as evidenced by reports submitted to the board by the director of the department of corrections, or his or her designated representatives, in a form to be prescribed by the director;

(2) That release would not depreciate the seriousness of the prisoner’s offense or promote disrespect for the law;

(3) That there is a reasonable probability that the prisoner, if released, would live and remain at liberty without violating the law;

(4) That the prisoner can properly assume a role in the city or town in which he or she is to reside. In assessing the prisoner’s role in the community the board shall consider:

(i) Whether or not the prisoner has employment;

(ii) The location of his or her residence and place of employment; and

(iii) The needs of the prisoner for special services, including but not limited to, specialized medical care and rehabilitative services; and

(5) That any and all restitution imposed pursuant to § 12-19-32 has been paid in full, or satisfactory arrangements have been made with the court if the person has the ability to pay. Any agreement shall be in writing and it is the burden of the person seeking parole to satisfy the parole board that this requirement has been met. Any person subject to the provisions of this section may request an ability to pay hearing, by filing the request with the court which imposed the original sentence.

(b) In the case of a prisoner sentenced to imprisonment for life who is released on parole and who is subsequently convicted of a crime of violence as defined in § 11-47-2, the conviction shall constitute an automatic revocation of parole and the prisoner shall not be eligible for parole thereafter.

(c) In the case of a prisoner convicted of a crime of violence as defined in § 11-47-2 and subsequently released on parole, should the prisoner, while on parole, commit an offense which results in a sentence of imprisonment for life, the conviction shall constitute an automatic revocation of parole and the prisoner shall not thereafter be eligible for parole.