DUI manslaughter in Rhode Island is the felony charge filed when impaired driving results in the death of another person. The charge carries up to 15 years in state prison with a 5-year mandatory minimum sentence for a first offense, plus fines from $5,000 to $20,000, mandatory license revocation, and a permanent felony record. The prosecution must prove the DUI element (BAC at or above 0.08 or actual impairment) and that the impaired driving was the proximate cause of the death. DUI manslaughter cases are tried in Rhode Island Superior Court and frequently involve extensive expert witness testimony on accident reconstruction.
