Jury Duty Pay in Rhode Island

About Jury Duty in Rhode Island

Rhode Island raised juror pay from $15 to $25 per day effective July 1, 2022. Pending 2025 legislation (H6049/S0303) proposes increasing to $50/day. The state’s tiny size — just 1,214 square miles — means no juror is more than an hour from any courthouse, and minimal travel costs partially offset the modest rate.

How Jury Pay Works

Rhode Island pays a flat $25/day under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-29-5. Mileage reimbursement follows the state rate, and RIPTA bus passes are available in Providence. Rhode Island is a “one day or one trial” state. There is no employer mandate to pay wages.

The Walkable Jury Duty

Rhode Island’s compact geography is unique. The entire state is smaller than many counties in the western US. A juror in Woonsocket, the northernmost city, is about 45 minutes from the courthouse in Providence. A juror in the College Hill neighborhood of Providence can walk to the Licht Judicial Complex in 15 minutes.

This walkability changes the economics of jury service. In New Mexico or Montana, a juror might spend more on gas than they earn in jury pay. In Rhode Island, a juror’s travel costs are minimal or zero. The $25/day rate, while modest by national standards, isn’t eroded by travel expenses the way it is in geographically larger states.

Employer Obligations

Rhode Island employers are not required to pay wages during jury service. The state’s major employers — CVS Health (headquartered in Woonsocket), Hasbro, Brown University, and the healthcare sector — typically continue salary. Rhode Island’s small size and dense population mean a high percentage of workers are in sectors with above-average rates of voluntary employer-paid jury leave.

How Rhode Island Compares

Rhode Island’s $25/day equals Louisiana and sits between Connecticut’s $135.52/day and Maine’s $15/day. Neighboring Massachusetts pays $50/day with employer-paid leave — double Rhode Island’s rate 90 minutes away. Federal jurors in Rhode Island’s single district receive $50/day.

Statute: R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-29-5 — Official source