Criminal penalties in Rhode Island
Checked in October 2026 against the Rhode Island General Laws, Titles 11 and 31.
These are statutory ranges for a first offence, from the least to the most the law allows. A court decides the actual sentence in each case. Not legal advice.
How Rhode Island sets penalties
- Rhode Island has no named felony classes. Each offence states its own range ('not less than ten (10) years and may be imprisoned for life') and sometimes a fine.
- Murder has two degrees (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-1). First degree (premeditated killing, or a killing in the course of listed felonies, or of a law enforcement officer on duty) carries life imprisonment. In listed aggravated cases, the court may order, under chapter 19.2 of title 12, that the person is not eligible for parole. Second degree carries at least 10 years, and may extend to life (§ 11-23-2).
- Larceny, including embezzlement, is graded by value: more than $1,500 and less than $5,000, up to 3 years; $5,000 to under $10,000, up to 6 years; more than $10,000 or a firearm, up to 10 years (§ 11-41-5).
- Drunk driving is a misdemeanor with tiers by blood alcohol concentration (§ 31-27-2). The first tier is shown.
- This table shows first-offence ranges.
Death penalty: No. The most serious punishment in the sections read is imprisonment for life, which the court may order to be without eligibility for parole in listed cases of first-degree murder (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-2).
First-degree murder
Life imprisonment (without parole in listed aggravated cases)
Murder in the first degree (Offence)
- Least
- Life imprisonment
- Most
- Life imprisonment
In listed aggravated cases (such as a killing creating a great risk of death to more than one person, at the direction of another for money, by torture, of a judge, law enforcement officer or firefighter on duty, or by a prisoner), the court may order under chapter 19.2 of title 12 that the person is not eligible for parole.
Second-degree murder
At least 10 years, and up to life
Murder in the second degree (Offence)
- Least
- 10 years
- Most
- Life imprisonment
Voluntary manslaughter
Up to 30 years
Manslaughter (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 30 years
Robbery
5 to 30 years (second degree); at least 10 years and up to life (first degree)
Robbery in the second degree (Offence)
- Least
- 5 years
- Most
- 30 years
- Fine
- Up to $10,000, or both
Robbery in the first degree (Offence)
- Least
- 10 years
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- Up to $15,000, or both
Burglary
2 to 10 years (breaking and entering a dwelling, first conviction)
Unlawful breaking and entering of a dwelling house or apartment, whether occupied or not, or an attached outbuilding or garage (Offence)
- Least
- 2 years
- Most
- 10 years
- Fine
- Up to $10,000, or both
Rhode Island's offence read here is unlawful breaking and entering of a dwelling house (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-2). A second or later conviction carries 4 to 15 years, or a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Restitution is mandatory.
Arson
At least 5 years, up to life (first degree); at least 20 years if a death results
Arson in the first degree: knowingly causing, by fire or explosion, a substantial risk of serious physical harm to any person or damage to an occupied or in-use building (Offence)
- Least
- 5 years
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- A fine of $3,000 to $25,000 may be imposed instead, or both
Where a death occurs as a direct result of the fire or explosion, the minimum is 20 years. A judge may impose less than the minimum only on finding substantial and compelling circumstances.
Aggravated assault
Up to 6 years (felony assault); up to 20 years (felony assault resulting in serious bodily injury)
Felony assault resulting in bodily injury or no injury (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 6 years
Felony assault resulting in serious bodily injury (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 20 years
Rape and sexual assault
At least 10 years, and up to life (first-degree sexual assault)
First-degree sexual assault: sexual penetration by force or coercion, of a mentally incapacitated or physically helpless victim, or by surprise, among other circumstances (Offence)
- Least
- 10 years
- Most
- Life imprisonment
Kidnapping
Up to 20 years
Kidnapping: without lawful authority forcibly or secretly confining or imprisoning another, or forcibly carrying or sending another out of the state (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 20 years
Embezzlement
Up to 3 years (over $1,500) up to 10 years (over $10,000)
Larceny or embezzlement of more than $1,500 and less than $5,000 (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 3 years
- Fine
- Up to $1,500, or both
Larceny or embezzlement of $5,000 to under $10,000 (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 6 years
- Fine
- Up to $3,000, or both
Larceny or embezzlement of more than $10,000, or of a firearm (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 10 years
- Fine
- Up to $5,000, or both
Rhode Island punishes embezzlement as larceny, graded by the value (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-5). A firearm carries the highest tier whatever its value. Lower values are punished less severely, by provisions that were not read.
Forgery
Up to 10 years, or a fine of up to $1,000, or both
Forgery or counterfeiting with intent to defraud (Offence)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 10 years
- Fine
- Up to $1,000, or both
Drunk driving, first offence
A fine of $100 to $300, 10 to 60 hours of community restitution and/or up to 1 year in prison (blood alcohol 0.08 to under 0.10); licence suspension of 30 to 180 days
Driving under the influence, first violation, blood alcohol of 0.08 percent but less than 0.1 percent (Misdemeanor)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- 1 year
- Fine
- $100 to $300
The sentence may include 10 to 60 hours of public community restitution, imprisonment of up to one year, and a special course on driving while intoxicated. The licence is suspended for 30 to 180 days.
Higher blood alcohol levels carry heavier penalties in the same section, which were not read in full.
Compare with: Iowa, Arizona, California, New York, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Maryland, Minnesota, Maine, South Carolina, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Alabama, Alaska, North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Vermont, West Virginia, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, New Hampshire, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut.
