(a) This section shall apply to every person who has been or shall be detained at or in the adult correctional institutions for failure to appear at a court ordered ability to pay hearing. After that person has completed his or her detention for lack of bail for failure to appear at an ability to pay hearing, he or she shall receive a reduction in fines and fees owed to the court, if any, in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00) per day served (or any fraction thereof) to be applied against the amount of his/her outstanding fines or costs, or both. (b) Provided further, any person detained at the adult correctional institution for failure to appear who also claims an inability to pay his or her fines or costs shall be entitled to an evidentiary hearing in the district court within forty-eight (48) hours of the detention on the issue of ability to pay. Should the forty-eight (48) hours fall on a weekend or holiday, the hearing shall be scheduled on the next available court date. If, after the hearing, it is determined there is no ability to pay, then that person shall immediately be released from detention. ay, the hearing shall be scheduled on the next available court date. If, after the hearing, it is determined there is no ability to pay, then that person shall immediately be released from detention. This section shall not deter or preclude any available alternatives to payment of the fines or costs. History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 290, § 9; P.L. 2006, ch. 374, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 443, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 367, § 1.
Rhode Island Legal Code