Rhode Island
Time to take next step in making RI’s bail system more fair | Opinion
Crime families in Rhode Island
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Journal Staff
Katie Mulvaney’s article “Well-known bondsman is rebuked by RI judge” (News, Feb. 7) may have been shocking to many, but it was no surprise to those who work in the criminal justice system.
The facts of this case are troubling. Rather than post the bail money he collected from the defendant’s family ‒ which would be returned to them after the defendant appeared in court and the case was closed ‒ the bondsman attempted to pocket a portion of it as a nonrefundable fee.
And while no criminal wrongdoing has been reported thus far (indeed, the quasi-judicial officer caught up in this unfortunate incident, attorney/bail commissioner Frank Saccocia, appears to have acted appropriately by promptly reporting the incident), a serious violation of court rules appears to have taken place.
By way of background, both bail commissioners and bondsmen fill essential roles in our criminal justice system. The former serve as quasi-judicial officers, appointed by the chief judge of the District Court. They are empowered to set personal recognizance or security bail, or, in more serious matters, hold a defendant without bail until the next court day. This is done during non-business hours at the police station in a proceeding referred to as a “special arraignment.” The latter ‒ the bondsmen ‒ are private business entities who, for a nonrefundable fee, post property to ensure a defendant’s release. (This bondsmen arrangement is different from the situation where a defendant or their family posts the full value of the bail themselves.)
Thus, the cost of bail falls hardest upon those least able to bear it: the indigent and poor. Those unable to post bail without the assistance of a bondsman are forced to pay money that will never be recovered ‒ a system that is inconsistent with the idea of the presumption of innocence. Indeed, studies show that monetary conditions of bail often lead to a wealth-based detention gap, with the poor suffering additional collateral consequences ‒ such as the loss of housing, employment and education ‒ as they linger in detention facilities.
The pervasive infiltration of money in our criminal justice system invites abuse, leading to situations like the one discussed in Ms. Mulvaney’s article. For example, even when a defendant can post the full amount of bail at a special arraignment, they still must remit a nonrefundable fee. Requiring a defendant to pay an extra fee for judicial services and due process is, at best, unseemly and, at worst, unfair.
Rhode Island “bail law” is composed of an interrelated mesh of state constitutional provisions, statutes, and court decisions and rules. Compared to other states, Rhode Island’s laws certainly have some redeeming qualities. For example, release on personal recognizance ‒ a practice that is consistent with the presumption of innocence ‒ is favored in most cases, especially the less serious ones. Moreover, the courts’ websites contain forms that require judges to explain why personal recognizance is not appropriate before setting monetary conditions of bail; although it appears that this obligation is most often honored in the breach.
Over the last several years, the General Assembly and judiciary have made tremendous progress in reforming the court cost system. The days when people were detained for failure to pay such costs are, thankfully, over. More recently, the courts have improved the ways that restitution is collected and the system is now more efficient.
Therefore, the time is ripe to take the next step: a comprehensive evaluation of our bail system.
Each year dozens of bills are considered by the General Assembly on this topic. A special task force, composed of a variety of criminal justice stakeholders, should be formed to study and make recommendations for improvements to a system that ‒ while at times good ‒ could certainly be made better.
Michael A. DiLauro is owner and manager of The Just Criminal Justice Group.
A unique Rhode Island story is headed to the big screen with cast and crew in Warwick currently filming the project.
New England filmmaker Hanna Gray Organschi’s feature directorial debut is underway in the Ocean State, telling the tale of a controversial drive-thru condom kiosk that once really existed in Cranston.
Rubber Hut has been filming on West Shore Road in Warwick since early June and now Deadline.com is reporting even more big names have joined the cast.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
From the beginning actress Grace Van Patten (The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox) has been attached to the project playing Emanuella DelVecchio, a former Pan-Am stewardess who opens the condom kiosk in her Italian Catholic town and becomes a lightning rod in the community.
Big Names Join the Rubber Hut Cast
Now, additional big names like Emmy Rossum (Shameless), Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), Ariana Greenblatt (Now You See Me, Now You Don’t), Rosemarie DeWitt (Untamed), and Fisher Stevens (Succession) have been added to the cast as well.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Critics’ Choice Awards; Theo Wargo/Getty Images; Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images for L’Oréal Paris; Aurore Marechal/Getty Images; Lia Toby/Getty Images; canva
Though character details are still being kept under wraps, filming is expected to continue in Warwick until late June. Some of these stars could be spotted locally soon.
READ MORE: Real Housewives of Rhode Island To Film Second Season Soon
No word on what other Rhode Island locations might be used in this production or if any further Ocean State filming will continue after the condom-kiosk scenes are through. No release date has been revealed either.
The True Story Behind the Condom Hut
Rubber Hut is the true story of a one-time photo kiosk turned condom kiosk that gained national attention in 1992. DelVecchio had the idea to paint the renovated Fotomat kiosk pink and white and exclusively sell condoms as a public health response to the AIDS crisis.
The Italian Catholic neighborhood she opened in had other ideas.
DelVecchio enraged the community with her “Condom Hut” and they protested the concept. The “Condom Hut” was also condemned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, had a rock thrown through its window and was covered in graffiti. The business closed within a year.
READ MORE: New Bedford’s Closed Down Bars That Are Impossible To Forget
Now this wild tale out of Rhode Island is getting national attention once again. Cast and crew are shooting scenes at the newly built hut to share this unique story with a whole new generation soon.
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Weird Weather Phenomena That Has Struck Massachusetts in the Last 50 Years
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A Scottish soccer fan we first introduced you to back in March
has passed through Rhode Island on his remarkable cross-country journey.
Craig Ferguson, 22, is walking from California to Massachusetts just in time for Scotland’s first World Cup match in Foxboro on Saturday.
After more than 100 days on the road, thousands of miles walked and countless steps taken in a kilt, Ferguson’s ‘Tartan Trek’ is almost complete.
“It is such a mix of emotions now. I remember we spoke for, I believe when I was in Colorado when we last spoke,” Ferguson said as he approached Kennedy Plaza on Wednesday. “It’s such a mix of emotions thinking, ‘What am going to do when this is done? It’s so close to being over.”
Supporters greeted Ferguson in Providence during one of his final stops of a journey that started more than 3,000 miles away.
“We thought it would be a great thing to come see him, cheer him on, because it’s a fantastic thing raising money for charity,” said Stephen Nicholason, who is visiting from Glasglow for the World Cup.
“Look at this today. And all along the way, that’s been the theme to this entire thing … Scotland and America showing their support,” Ferguson said. “The Americans as well who have been following me from every step of the way.”
He started his journey at the Santa Monica Pier and after more than 100 days, he has walked nearly 3,000 miles to raise money and awareness for mental health.
Ferguson said he was inspired to go on this journey after Scotland qualified for the European Championship in 2023, and his best friend, Struan, said they should walk to the game.
“That’s the reason behind every single step that I take,” Ferguson added. “I’m doing this for every person who’s ever been affected by mental health, anyone who’s ever lost someone to suicide, anyone who’s ever suffered with mental health issues.”
Joining Ferguson on his journey is his friend Matthew, who’s been following him in an RV to make sure he is safe.
The walk has not been easy, with plenty of blisters, bad weather and other challenges along the way.
“Walking 35 to 40 miles, every single step that I take, I think would put anyone in a very tired position,” Ferguson explained. “I’d say the hardest point was probably coming across the Mojave Desert … we are not built for the desert, especially not walking in a kilt.”
Now, the end of his journey is finally in sight as he expects to arrive in Boston on Friday before watching Scotland play Haiti at Boston Stadium on Saturday.
“You’ve just got to overcome the challenges,” Ferguson said. “That’s what makes getting to moments like this and hopefully Boston so special.”
You can follow his journey on social media and donate to his cause, which supports the Scottish Action for Mental Health.
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Good morning! Happy Wednesday! We’ll see the humidity rising through the day and it will be very humid for the next couple of days. We do have some shower chances ahead, but most of the next few days will be dry.
Dew points will rise into the 60s today…especially this afternoon. Tomorrow, with dew points in the 70s, it’ll be very humid (and the weather looks hot for Thursday, too). The dew points and thus the humidity will drop into the weekend.
INTERACTIVE RADAR: Live Pinpoint Weather 12 Radar »
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-wed-6-10-26/” FLIGHT TRACKER
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Hour-by-hour forecast for today…
Hour by Hour // A close look at the upcoming conditions »
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“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-wed-6-10-26/” BEACH AND BOATING FORECASTS
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LOOKING AHEAD
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-Meteorologist T.J. Del Santo
T.J. Del Santo (tdelsanto@wpri.com) is the weekday morning and noon meteorologist for 12 News. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Threads and BlueSky.
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