Whereas, on June 26, 1981 The Superior Court Adopted the Following Policy on Sentencing

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
PROVIDENCE, SC. SUPERIOR COURT
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 95-23
Whereas, on June 26, 1981 the Superior Court adopted the following policy on sentencing:
“In order to eliminate, insofar as possible, disparity in the sentencing of
defendants for crimes committed under the same or similar
circumstances, the court may consider and utilize the sentencing
benchmarks formulated by the Supreme Court Committee on
Sentencing Guidelines.”;
Whereas, the sentencing benchmarks were revised in 1984 and 1990;
Whereas, sentencing defendants is a continuing and appropriate concern of all justices of the
Superior Court;
Therefore, it is hereby declared that a Sentencing Study Committee of five (5) Superior Court
Justices is organized for the following purposes:
1. Establish a set of consistent sentencing standards in the Superior Court and, to the
extent possible, reduce the potential for sentencing disparity;
2. Review the benchmarks that have been previously adopted and consider whether they
should be modified.
3. Consider whether other crimes are eligible for the designation of an appropriate
benchmark;
4. Establish standards in sentencing those found to be violators of previously imposed
suspended sentences or of probation;
5. Confer with other interested parties in the criminal justice system to solicit their views
and concerns about sentencing practices. Such parties shall include, but is not limited
to:

A. Office of Attorney General
B. Office of Public Defender
C. R.I. Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
D. Department of Corrections
E. Parole Board
F. R.I. Association of Police Chiefs
The Sentencing Study Committee shall report to the Justices of the Superior Court with its
recommendations by May 1, 1996.
The following justices are designated as members of the Sentencing Study Committee:
Justice Francis J. Darigan, Jr. - Chairman
Justice John F. Sheehan
Justice Henry Gemma, Jr.
Justice Maureen McKenna-Goldberg
Justice Edward C. Clifton
BY ORDER OF:
______________________________
JOSEPH F. RODGERS, JR.
PRESIDING JUSTICE
DATED: OCTOBER 6, 1995