Rhode Island Courts

The court which will hear a criminal charge is determined by the location of the incident and the seriousness of the offense. Failure of defendants to appear in court generally will result in an arrest warrant being issued. 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. 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.

District Courts

Second Division
45 Washington Square
Newport, RI 02840-2913
Ph: 401-841-8350

Third Division
222 Quaker Lane
Warwick, RI 02886-0107
Ph: 401-822-1771

Sixth Division
One Dorrance Plaza
Providence, RI 02903-2719
Ph: 401-458-5400

Superior Courts

Providence County Superior Court
Licht Judicial Complex
250 Benefit Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Kent County Superior Court
Leighton Judicial Complex
222 Quaker Lane
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886

Washington County Superior Court
McGrath Judicial Complex
4800 Tower Hill Road
Wakefield, Rhode Island 02879

Newport County Superior Court
Florence K. Murray Judicial Complex
45 Washington Square
Newport, Rhode Island 02840