Rhode Island General Laws 42-9-4. Prosecution of offenses
(a) The attorney general shall draw and present all informations and indictments, or other legal or equitable process, against any offenders, as by law required, and diligently, by a due course of law or equity, prosecute them to final judgment and execution.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 42-9-4
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
(b) The duty of the attorney general under this section shall include the duty to prosecute all charges of violations of §§ 31-27-2.1, 31-27-2.3, and/or 31-27-2.5, jurisdiction over the adjudication of which is conferred upon the traffic tribunal under chapter 41.1 of Title 31.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 17, § 2; C.P.A. 1905, § 1084; G.L. 1909, ch. 23, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 22, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 10, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 42-9-4; P.L. 1994, ch. 378, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 6, § 40.