As there may be more one source to obtaining Rhode Island criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.

Rhode Island State Court Structure:

The Rhode Island traffic court has jurisdiction over traffic violations. The traffic court hears no jury trials. The Rhode Island municipal court has jurisdiction over an ordinance violation. The municipal court has exclusive parking jurisdiction. The municipal court has no jury trials. The Rhode Island probate court has exclusive estate jurisdiction. The probate court does not hear jury trials. The Rhode Island workers compensation court hears administrative agency appeals, including workers compensation matters. The Rhode Island district court has jurisdiction over tort, contract, real property rights, from $1,500 and $5,000, to $10,000, and appeals of administrative agency cases. The district court has exclusive small claims for claims up to $1,500, and mental health case jurisdiction. The district court also hears misdemeanors, DWI or DUI cases, and ordinance violations. The Rhode Island district court has exclusive moving traffic jurisdiction for those cases not handled administratively. The district court handles preliminary hearings. There are no jury trials at the district court level. The Rhode Island superior court has jurisdiction over tort, contract, real property rights, from $5,000 and up, civil appeals, and miscellaneous civil cases. The superior court has exclusive felony, and criminal appeals jurisdiction. The superior court has jury trials. The Rhode Island supreme court maintains mandatory jurisdiction in civil, non capital criminal, juvenile, disciplinary, advisory opinion, and original proceeding cases. The Rhode Island supreme court has discretionary jurisdiction in administrative agency appeals, interlocutory decision, and original proceeding cases.