R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-3-4 (2026)

Venue of offenses

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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(a) Every indictment or information for offenses committed on the waters of Narragansett Bay may be tried in any county in the discretion of the attorney general, unless otherwise ordered by the presiding justice.

(b) For the purpose of prosecuting and punishing criminal offenses over which the superior court has jurisdiction, the state of Rhode Island is declared to be a single district. The offenses shall be prosecuted and punished at the following locations unless otherwise ordered by the presiding justice:

(1) For offenses committed in a city or town within Providence or Bristol counties, at the superior court in Providence;

(2) For offenses committed in the city of Warwick or a town within Kent county, at the superior court in Warwick;

(3) For offenses committed in a town within Washington county, at the superior court in South Kingstown; and

(4) For offenses committed in the city of Newport or a town within Newport county, at the superior court in Newport.

(c) For the purpose of prosecuting and punishing criminal offenses over which the district court has jurisdiction, the offenses shall be prosecuted and punished at the following locations unless otherwise ordered to be moved within the same county by the chief judge pursuant to this section or unless otherwise agreed to by the parties and the court: (1) for the offenses committed in a town within the first division, at the district court located within Bristol county; (2) for offenses committed in the city of Newport or a town within the second division, at the district court located within Newport county; (3) for offenses committed in the cities of Warwick or Cranston or a town within the third division, at the district court within the third division; (4) for offenses committed in a town within the fourth division, at the district court located within Washington county; (5) for offenses committed in a city or town within the fifth division, at the district court located within the fifth division; and (6) for offenses committed in a city within the sixth division, at the district court in Providence. The chief judge may order any criminal case or proceeding to be transferred to another division of the court within the same county. For purposes of this section, the first division shall be considered to be a part of Providence county.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1981–2012 · leading case: State v. Quattrocchi, 681 A.2d 879 (R.I. 1996).
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State v. Quattrocchi, 681 A.2d 879 (R.I. 1996). · cites it 8× “2d 185, 187 (1947), that any offense committed on Narragansett Bay outside Providence county could be "found and tried" in any county at the discretion of the Attorney General pursuant to G.L.1956 § 12-3-4 as it then existed. The state concedes that in 1981 § 12-3-4 was amended…”
State v. Kluth, 46 A.3d 867 (R.I. 2012). · cites it 2× “This Court has previously stated that “the legislative objective [of § 12-3-4(b) ] is to enhance the ability of the judiciary to administer the criminal-justice system effectively.”
State v. Quarles, 504 A.2d 473 (R.I. 1986). “1956 (1981 Reenactment) § 12-3-4, as amended by P.L. 1981, ch. 104, § 1.”
Advisory Opinion to the Governor, 437 A.2d 542 (R.I. 1981). “1956 (1969 Reenactment) § 12-3-4, as amended by P.L. 1974, ch. 118, § 10 (offenses on Narragansett Bay triable in any county at the discretion of the Attorney General); § 12-3-5 (offenses in vicinity of county or division boundary, offenses at sea, and offenses aboard steamboat…”
R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-3-4(b): 1 case
State v. Kluth, 46 A.3d 867 (R.I. 2012). “This Court has previously stated that “the legislative objective [of § 12-3-4(b) ] is to enhance the ability of the judiciary to administer the criminal-justice system effectively.”
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