Rhode Island General Laws 12-17-1. Trial in superior court only on indictment, information, or appeal – Venue
No person shall be put on trial for any offense before the superior court except upon indictment found by a grand jury, or upon an information signed by the attorney general or one of the attorney general’s designated assistants, or upon appeal from the sentence of a district court, and, unless otherwise provided by law, the trial shall be held before the superior court in the county in which the offense may lawfully be alleged to have been committed or shall have been committed and not elsewhere, but this provision and all other general and special provisions fixing the venue of criminal actions shall be subject to the exception that proceedings by indictment, information, or on appeal for offenses alleged to have been committed or committed in the county of Bristol shall be had in the county of Providence.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 285, §§ 1, 7; C.P.A. 1905, §§ 1179, 1180; G.L. 1909, ch. 354, §§ 1, 7; G.L. 1909, ch. 354, § 31; P.L. 1915, ch. 1261, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 407, § 31; G.L. 1938, ch. 625, § 31; G.L. 1956, § 12-17-1; P.L. 1974, ch. 118, § 13.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 12-17-1
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.