§ 12-12-1.1 Capital or life offenses
§ 12-12-1.2 Felonies – Less than capital or life, penalty
§ 12-12-1.3 Lesser offenses, penalty
§ 12-12-1.4 Contents of indictments, informations and complaints
§ 12-12-1.5 Informations – Exhibits to be attached
§ 12-12-1.6 Defendant to receive copy of information
§ 12-12-1.7 Motion to dismiss information
§ 12-12-1.8 Hearing to determine probable cause
§ 12-12-1.9 Determining whether probable cause exists
§ 12-12-1.10 Dismissal of information – Effect
§ 12-12-1.11 “Indictment” construed
§ 12-12-2 Process in fictitious name or by description
§ 12-12-3 Formal defects in process not ground for abatement or quashing
§ 12-12-10 Variances of proof and immaterial mistakes
§ 12-12-11 Conditions not required to be negated in allegations
§ 12-12-12 Description of written instruments
§ 12-12-13 Allegations as to form of money
§ 12-12-14 Allegations as to statutory larceny
§ 12-12-15 Allegations in perjury indictments or informations
§ 12-12-16 Allegations as to property held jointly, in common, or by partners
§ 12-12-17 Statute of limitations
§ 12-12-18 Period of limitations extended by theft, loss or destruction of indictment or information
§ 12-12-20 Original and duplicates of charges to be filed
§ 12-12-21 “Designated assistants” defined
§ 12-12-22 Arraignments and pleas – Notices to aliens
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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 12-12 - Indictments, Informations and Complaints

  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • 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.
  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Designated assistants: as used in this chapter means any one of the attorneys employed full time by the attorney general, including, but not limited to, the positions of assistant attorney general, special assistant attorney general, and special counsel, who has been designated by the attorney general as an attorney authorized to prosecute by information charging. See Rhode Island General Laws 12-12-21
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
  • 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.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • United States: include the several states and the territories of the United States. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-8