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Rhode Island
Time to take next step in making RI’s bail system more fair | Opinion
Crime families in Rhode Island
A look back at some Rhode Island and New England mobsters.
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.
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 1, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 1 drawing
16-21-27-41-61, Mega Ball: 24
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from May 1 drawing
Midday: 5-4-5-8
Evening: 5-1-7-5
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from May 1 drawing
08-09-17-31-33, Extra: 15
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 1 drawing
17-24-26-28-55, Bonus: 04
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
- Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
- Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.
On Friday, May 1, Bravo posted a mid-season preview to YouTube, giving fans a glimpse at the drama still to come during the franchise’s first season in the Ocean State.
Which ‘Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ stars want to do Season 2?
Reporter Paul Edward Parker asks cast members of the “Real Housewives of Rhode Island” if they’re up for another season of the Bravo TV show.
Paul Edward Parker
Enjoying “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” so far? Buckle up – it’s about to get even juicier.
On Friday, May 1, Bravo posted a mid-season preview to YouTube, giving fans a glimpse at the drama still to come during the franchise’s first season in the Ocean State. As expected, the season will continue to follow major developing plotlines, including the fallout from Rulla Pontarelli’s reported husband’s affair and the strained relationship between Rosie DiMare and Kelsey Swanson.
However, the trailer also hints that the season will take some unexpected twists and turns, with new arguments rising between friendly cast members and personal issues coming to a head for many of the women.
Here’s a sneak peek at the rest of Season 1 of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island.”
What happened in ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ mid-season preview?
According to the mid-season preview, the rest of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” Season 1 will include many more fights between the cast members. Swanson and DiMare’s screaming matches will continue, with the trailer showing DiMare telling Swanson “Everyone in f***ing Rhode Island knows you f*** married men.”
Surprisingly, disagreements will also rise between LizMcGraw and Alicia Carmody, as well as McGraw and Jo-Ellen Tiberi. McGraw is shown telling Tiberi to get out of her face, with Tiberi storming after her yelling “what did I do?”
Meanwhile, Ashley Iaconetti will continue to struggle under the financial and emotional burden of Audrey’s, with her and husband Jared Haibon discussing their decision to renew the lease or not. After her breakup, Swanson will have to decide if her new man is worth giving up her financial comfort, while Tiberi will finally have a tough conversation with her mother.
As for Pontarelli, it seems that Tiberi will make good on her episode five promise of finding concrete proof of Brian Pontarelli’s reported affair, with multiple housewives discussing video proof in the trailer. After Pontarelli reveals to the group that Brian was arrested for tracking her, the trailer ends with the question looming over everyone’s heads: “Rulla, what are you gonna do?”.
How to watch ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’
Want to see how all the drama unfolds? “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” will air every Sunday at 9 p.m. on Bravo.
Watch ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ on Peacock
Episodes will be available for next-day streaming each Monday on Peacock.
Local News
A West Warwick resident captured video of the white-robed figure wandering around town early Monday morning.
Police in Rhode Island say they’ve confirmed that videos of a person walking around a town in a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood were part of a hoax for social media, not the work of an organized group.
Social media videos appeared to show the person walking around West Warwick while dressed in white robes and a pointed hood. The incident happened on Main Street at around 2 a.m. Monday, according to West Warwick police.
Detectives have since learned that the event was a stunt orchestrated by two brothers “to generate attention on social media and in the news,” police said on Facebook. The perpetrators admitted their involvement to police and “provided conclusive evidence” that they were the only ones responsible for the hoax.
The individuals “explicitly denounced” affiliation with hate groups, and police said that the investigation has yielded “no evidence to suggest otherwise.” For now, the investigation has been closed.
“The West Warwick Police Department would like to thank members of the community who came forward with information,” police said. “Thorough investigations such as this often rely on community involvement, and we appreciate the public’s cooperation and assistance.”
Video captured by Ryan Fitzgerald showed the hooded figure wandering around the Arctic Gazebo before heading down the street. Fitzgerald told The Boston Globe that he thought the person was “just messing around” but noted that it was indicative of broader issues.
“There’s a lot of undisclosed racism that goes on here. I hear about it all the time,” Fitzgerald told the Globe. “So it wouldn’t be shocking to me if it wasn’t a prank, and it wasn’t a hoax, and it was really somebody that really was about that kind of life.”
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