Posts by Natalia Friedlander
New RI law eliminates criminal court costs for those unable to pay
On June 27, Governor McKee signed into law 2022-H7695 and 2022-S2774, which remove all state court fees, assessments, and costs for people convicted of criminal offenses who meet the criteria for indigent status (inability to pay), as well as those who spend more than 30 days in prison. Income Evaluation at Sentencing At the time…
Read MoreRent Relief Closing Applications on June 1, 2022
IMPORTANT RENT RELIEF UPDATE: Rent Relief RI will only be accepting new applications and recertifications until June 1, 2022. Applications and recertifications MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE JUNE 1, 2022. If you complete your new application or recertification before June 1, 2022 then you will still be processed for past due rent and utilities, security deposit, and three months of forward facing rent if you are eligible…
Read MoreTenant Protection Against Evictions and Help Paying Rent
CDC Eviction Moratorium Overturned in August 2021 The United States Supreme Court struck down the CDC Eviction Moratorium on August 26, 2021, meaning it is no longer in effect and evictions may continue. Evictions in Rhode Island are carried out by a judge so you cannot legally be forced out of your home until after…
Read More“Tech Boosts” Program from Cox Communications Awards $10K Grant to the Rhode Island Center for Justice
Tech Boosts from Cox put technology equipment into the hands of community organizations that need it the most WEST WARWICK – (June 14, 2021) – Despite the important work nonprofits and community organizations do in the communities they serve, many are lacking the modern technology tools needed to perform their missions to the fullest. To…
Read MoreCenter for Justice Closed on June 21st
The R.I. Center for Justice will be closed on Monday, June 21, 2021 in recognition of the historic first national holiday observance of Juneteenth. From President Biden’s Proclamation: “On June 19, 1865 — nearly nine decades after our Nation’s founding, and more than 2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation — enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas,…
Read MoreRental and Utility Assistance Now Available
Dear Neighbor, Rental and utility assistance is now available again in Rhode Island. The new Rent Relief RI (RRR) program has opened and is now accepting applications. This program is the successor to the Safe Harbor program and has taken on the responsibility of processing unfinished Safe Harbor applications. Although RRR will be prioritizing and processing…
Read MoreThank you BCBSRI for a second year of BlueAngel Grant Support – Housing is Health!
The Rhode Island Center for Justice is excited to enter a second year in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island through the BlueAngel Community Health Grant. The BlueAngel Grant supports our work to help Rhode Islanders remain stably housed and keep prevent utility disruption, a leading cause of housing insecurity. We are grateful…
Read MoreAu Pairs: Special Enrollment Period to Sign Up for Free/Low-Cost Health Insurance
Updated on April 10, 2021. If you are an au pair on a J1 visa with a valid DS-2019, living anywhere in the United States, you may be eligible for free or low-cost, comprehensive health insurance that covers primary care, prescriptions, pre-existing conditions, sports injuries, mental health care, vaccinations, COVID-19 care, emergency room visits, surgeries,…
Read MoreThe R.I. Center for Justice Stands with Jose Batista for Transparency
The Rhode Island Center for Justice stands with Jose Batista, Executive Director of the Providence External Review Authority (PERA), established by the Providence City Council to function as a civilian police oversight board. On November 10th, Director Batista released two videos from an April 19, 2020 incident showing Sergeant Hanley handcuffing and being physically and…
Read MoreRhode Island District Court Reluctantly Dismisses Suit Seeking to Establish Federal Constitutional Right to a Civic Education
Plaintiffs will appeal, saying the decision gives them a road map to the First Circuit PRESS RELEASE – OCTOBER 13, 2020 New York, NY — Judge William Smith of the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island today issued his long-awaited decision in Cook v. Raimondo. The case was filed in November 2018 by a group…
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