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The court which will hear a criminal charge is determined by
the location of the incident and the seriousness of the offense.
Knowledge of the court where the charge will be heard is critical:
when defendants fail to appear in court, the judge is authorized
to issue an arrest warrant and police custody can result. A late
appearance will usually prevent an arrest warrant from being issued.
Traffic violations are often heard in special, municipal TRAFFIC
COURTS, located around the State; the exact traffic court
will depend on the location of the traffic offense. Other violations,
such as illegal shellfishing, and all misdemeanors are heard in
DISTRICT COURT.
There are eight Divisions of the District Court located throughout
the State, although several of them are combined in one building
in Providence. The particular Division hearing a criminal case
is determined by where the crime happened, not by where the defendant
lives.
District Court Division Locations
Sixth Division District Court (Providence, Woonsocket and Bristol
County Cases)
Garrahy Judicial Complex
One Dorrance Street
Providence,R.I. 02903
(401) 458-5400
Fourth Division District Court (Washington County Cases)
McGrath Judicial Complex
400 Tower Hill Road
Wakefield, RI 02879
(401-782-4131)
Third Division District Court (Kent County Cases)
Leighton Judicial Complex
222 Quaker Lane
W. Warwick, RI 02893
(410-822-1771)
Second Division District Court (Newport County cases)
Murray Judicial Complex
45 Washington Square
Newport, R.I. 02840
(401) 841-8350
Felonies are usually heard initially in the District Court in
most cases. Again, the particular District Court Division depends
upon where the crime happened. Eventually, however, most felonies
are heard in a SUPERIOR
COURT. The Superior Courts are located in each of the counties
of Rhode Island, except that there is no Superior Court in Bristol
County; Bristol County felonies are heard in Providence County.
Superior Court Locations
Providence and Bristol County Superior Court Licht Judicial
Complex
250 Benefit Street
Providence, RI 02903
(401-222-3250)
Kent County Superior Court Leighton Judicial Complex
222 Quaker Lane
Warwick, RI 02886
(401-822-1311)
Washington County Superior Court McGrath Judicial Complex
4800 Tower Hill Road
Wakefield, RI 02879
(401-782-4121)
Newport County Superior Court Murray Judicial Complex
45 Washington Square
Newport, RI 02840
(401-841-8330)
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