Rhode Island § 12-13-8 § 12-13-8. Qualifications of sureties.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 12-13-8 — § 12-13-8. Qualifications of sureties.

Rhode Island § 12-13-8

Title 12Criminal Procedure

Ch. 12-13Bail and Recognizance

This text of Rhode Island § 12-13-8 (§ 12-13-8. Qualifications of sureties.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-13-8 (2026).

Text

§ 12-13-8. Qualifications of sureties.
(a) Whenever in any criminal case a defendant is required to recognize with surety or
            sureties, each surety, other than an incorporated surety company duly authorized by
            law to give the recognizance, must be a resident or freeholder within this state,
            and must be the owner of property of value to the amount expressed in the recognizance,
            over and above all incumbrances, but the justice or persons taking the recognizance
            may allow two (2) or more sureties to justify, provided they own in the aggregate
            property in value to the amount or sum for which the recognizance is given, over and
            above al

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

§ 12-13-8. Qualifications of sureties.

(a) Whenever in any criminal case a defendant is required to recognize with surety or sureties, each surety, other than an incorporated surety company duly authorized by law to give the recognizance, must be a resident or freeholder within this state, and must be the owner of property of value to the amount expressed in the recognizance, over and above all incumbrances, but the justice or persons taking the recognizance may allow two (2) or more sureties to justify, provided they own in the aggregate property in value to the amount or sum for which the recognizance is given, over and above all incumbrances. The justice or person taking recognizance may require any surety offered to make affidavit or be examined orally under oath as to his or her qualifications as the surety.

(b) Bail affidavits required for the posting of surety bail shall be approved and signed by any clerk, authorized by the presiding justice for bail posted in the superior courts, and by any clerk authorized by the chief judge of the district court for bail posted in the district courts. Neither the attorney general, nor his or her designee shall be required to approve the affidavits.

Legislative History

G.L. 1909, ch. 354, § 16; P.L. 1915, ch. 1261, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 407, § 16; G.L. 1938, ch. 625, § 16; G.L. 1956, § 12-13-8; P.L. 1998, ch. 361, § 1.