As you all know MA courts generally are set-up as a one stop shop for all Juvenile, criminal, traffic, probate, housing, and civil matter. However, in Rhode Island it is much different.
RI Municipal Courts: handle state and local housing code, and traffic violations (in that specific town only), town bylaw/zoning violations. The towns that do not have a Municipal Court utilize the regional RI District Court. The town appoints a lawyer to act as a judge. This court can not fine above $500 and can not impose a jail sentence of more then 30 days. Appeals directed to the regional RI District Court.
RI District Courts: handle misdemeanor, bench trials only , small claims, Section 12/Section 35s (In MA Language), administrative law/tax matters for agencies requiring this and housing issues for towns that do not have a muncipal court. Appeals directed to RI Superior Court
RI Superior Court: Have original jurisdiction in all felony proceedings, in civil matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $10,000, and in matters of equity. Jury Trials are held here. Appeals directed to the RI Supreme Court. Gun Court, Drug Court. There is only 1 RI Superior Court. Appeals directed to RI Supreme Court
RI Family Courts: (within the various RI District Courts): Hears all divorce cases, DSS/DYS (In MA Language) type cases, also has various special "problem solving courts": Domestic Violence, Divorce, Truancy, Juevenille Drug, Family Drug, Re-Entry (sort of like a parole board for RI's Big DYS Facility). Appeals directed to RI Supreme Court
RI Workers' Compensation Court: Located inside the Providence District Courthouse. Self Exp. Appeals directed to RI Supreme Court
RI Traffic Tribunal: An on the road court house, stopping at various locations . Basically this is a Traffic Court. Appeals directed to the regional RI District Court. Handles traffic issues for towns with out Municipal Courts.
RI Probate Courts: Every town in RI has a probate court, which hears: Decedent's estates; this includes persons who have died with a Will (testate) or those without one (intestate);Adult Limited Guardianships, either of the person, estate or both. Minor Guardianships, either of the person, estate or both. Adult Adoptions, Name Changes . The Probate Judge is elected or appointed by the towns people. Appeals directed to the regional RI District Court.
RI Juvenile Hearing Board (in each town): Consists of local citizens appointed by the town to hear 1 misdemeanor or trauncy case ONLY per juvenille. If a Juvenile fails to comply with the board's ruling or commits another crime, they are directed to Family Court. In essence this is Hearing Board operates under the control and direction of the Family Court. The hearing board can implement:
(1) Fines up to a maximum of $100 for each offense charged; (2) Community service; (3) Restitution for any injuries or property damage, where appropriate, resulting from the commission of the offense; (4) Imposition of a reasonable curfew; (5) Denial, suspension or revocation of driving privileges for a period of up to two years; (6) Appropriate counseling.
RI Supreme Court (Self Exp.)
Interesting sections of RI Law:
§ 45-42-1 Emergency police power. – When the police chief of a city or town within the state or his or her designee requests emergency police assistance from another police department within the state, the officers responding to the request shall be subject to the authority of the requesting chief and have the same authority, powers, duties, privileges, and immunities as a duly appointed police officer of the city or town making the request, until the requesting chief of police discharges and releases the assisting police officers to their own departments.
Posted by: New Hire
quite an elaborate system for such a small state, no??
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