Rhode Island Training School
Rhode Island Training School
Physical Address
57 Power RoadCranston, RI 02920
Jail Phone Number
401-462-7390Rhode Island Training School Inmate Search: Finding a Teen From Any Rhode Island Town
The Rhode Island Training School, 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, is where DCYF holds boys and girls on Family Court orders, both those waiting on a case and those serving a sentence. Families from all five counties, from Block Island to Burrillville, deal with this one center. This page shows how to confirm your child is there, how visits and calls work, and which police force made the arrest.
The official source is DCYF's youth detention page, which explains the center's program. Youth records stay private, and teens in DCYF care are kept apart from adult RIDOC listings, so a phone call is the quickest way to confirm a stay.
Call the center at 401-462-7390 with your child's full name and birth date. Ask whether your child is there and when the next hearing is set. How a teen gets out is covered on our youth release page, and hearing steps are on our Family Court page.
Read inmate search answers
Read inmate search answers1. How can I confirm my child is at the Training School?
- Phone the arresting police department and ask where your child was taken.
- Call the center, 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, at 401-462-7390. Have the full name and birthday ready when staff answer.
- Call the Family Court Juvenile Clerk, 401-458-3290, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on a court day. Ask whether a petition was filed and when the hearing is.
- Read DCYF's youth detention page to learn how the program works.
- If nobody can answer, try DCYF's main office, 101 Friendship Street, Providence, RI 02903, at 401-528-3500.
2. Why doesn't my teen show up in the state inmate search?
The RIDOC search lists people held by the adult prison system. A youth in DCYF care sits outside it, and Family Court youth records are closed to the public (R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(C)). Other reasons a name may be missing from a list:
- Police may still be working on the first steps after the arrest.
- A judge may already have let the child leave.
- Someone 18 or older belongs in the adult RIDOC inmate search.
- A federal arrest usually means the Wyatt Detention Facility, 950 High Street, Central Falls, RI 02863, 401-729-1190.
3. Where could a young person be held right now?
Police handle the first hours after an arrest. After that, only a Family Court judge's order can place a youth at Power Road. If your child is 18 or older, or a judge waived the case to adult court, RIDOC's adult system applies. Its buildings, all in Cranston except the federal one, are:
- Men's intake: the Anthony P. Travisono Intake Service Center, 18 Slate Hill Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-2285. Men waiting for trial or for classification go here, plus those in protective custody.
- Women of any status: the Gloria McDonald Women's Facility, 20 Fleming Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-0787, from pretrial through work release.
- Long terms: the Maximum Security Facility, 1375 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-2053, which also takes men moved for discipline.
- Tightest control: the High Security Center, 54 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-2028, a supermax.
- Medium custody: the John J. Moran Medium Security Facility, 51 West Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-3771, for sentenced men.
- Working men: the Minimum Security Facility, 16 Howard Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-2162, with jobs and work release.
- Federal holds: the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility, 950 High Street, Central Falls, RI 02863, 401-729-1190, for the Marshals, ICE and federal prisons. RIDOC does not run it.
4. Who runs RITS, and how do I reach DCYF?
The Department of Children, Youth and Families runs the center, not RIDOC. DCYF calls it a secure correctional program for male and female youth who are detained or sentenced, with each stay ordered by the Family Court.
- The center: 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-7390.
- DCYF's main office: 101 Friendship Street, Providence, RI 02903, 401-528-3500.
The center's resident handbook, dated March 2025, sets the visit and phone rules your child will live by.
↑ Back to the question list5. Will I find my child's photo or name online?
No. Rhode Island keeps juvenile Family Court records out of its public records law (R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(C)). So a youth's photo and case file stay out of public view.
Adults are treated another way. The first arrest report for an adult and the charges are public records (R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(D)), though the law does not speak to booking photos by name. Reporters and the public can ask the arresting police department for that report.
↑ Back to the question list6. Can I get a call when someone is moved or released?
RI-VINE is a free, anonymous phone service for people in RIDOC custody. It tells callers where an adult is held and can send notice of a release, a parole hearing, an escape or a transfer, in English or Spanish. Register online at VINELink, or ask RIDOC's Office of Victim Services, 401-462-0381, to enroll you.
For a youth at the center, ask staff at the center, 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-7390, and the defender how you will hear about a move or a release date.
↑ Back to the question list7. How does a teen get out?
A Family Court judge decides. The order that sent your child to the center also controls when the stay ends. Ask the Public Defender whether the judge can be asked to look at it again. Call the Juvenile Clerk at 401-458-3290 to learn the next hearing date.
If the case moves to adult court, adult bail rules take over, including after-hours bail set at the police station by a commissioner and a $25 RIDOC charge when bail is paid at the ACI. Every step is on our youth release and bail page.
↑ Back to the question list8. How do I find out what my child is accused of?
- Ask the arresting police department what it wrote in the petition.
- Ask the Juvenile Clerk's Office at the Garrahy Judicial Complex, One Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI 02903, 401-458-3290, what was filed. Police file "wayward" and "negligent" petitions there.
- Sit in on the Public Defender interview after arraignment, because parents join that meeting along with the child.
For a person 18 or older, the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal shows the adult docket with charges and dates.
↑ Back to the question list9. Who will be my child's lawyer?
The Office of the Public Defender represents youth in Family Court. After arraignment, a defender sits down with the teen and the parents. Qualifying does not turn on one income number. The office weighs earnings, property, needed bills and debts, and the applicant signs a sworn statement.
Main office: 160 Pine Street, Providence, RI 02903, 401-222-3492, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Family line: 401-222-5225.
↑ Back to the question list10. How do visits work at the Training School?
The resident handbook allows one visit a week. Parents, guardians, brothers and sisters, and others on an approved list may come, and a unit manager or administrator must clear each visitor. Scheduled visits take place during the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift. A youth who moves up to a higher level can earn extra visits.
Call the center, 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, at 401-462-7390, to get on the list and set a time. Our visiting page has general tips.
↑ Back to the question list11. Can I send money or snacks?
Ask staff at the center, 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-7390, what the center allows before you send any money or items. RIDOC's deposit kiosk, website and phone services are for adults held at the ACI, not for youth in DCYF care. Our inmate money page explains adult deposits.
↑ Back to the question list12. Phone calls from the Training School: how often?
The handbook gives each youth two calls a week, each at least 10 minutes, to approved contacts. Staff dial the number. Calls to a lawyer, the Office of the Child Advocate or the child abuse hotline are private.
To get your number approved, call the center, 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, at 401-462-7390. Our inmate phone page covers adult phone accounts.
↑ Back to the question list13. Can I write my child a letter?
Yes. Call the center, 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, at 401-462-7390 first and ask for the mailing address and the rules for letters, photos and packages.
For someone 18 or older at the ACI, mail goes by U.S. Postal Service only, with the full name and RIDOC ID number. Men at intake use P.O. Box 8249, Cranston, RI 02920. Women use P.O. Box 8312, Cranston, RI 02920. Our inmate mail page has more.
↑ Back to the question list14. What happens to my child's belongings?
Call the center, 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, at 401-462-7390, to ask what your child may keep and how items come home. If police kept anything at the arrest, ask that department how to claim it.
For an adult, property rules are one of the menu choices on RIDOC's 24-hour line, 401-414-2871.
↑ Back to the question list15. Medicine, health and school at RITS: who do I tell?
Call the center, 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, at 401-462-7390 right away about medicine, allergies, a health condition or school needs. Ask for the staff member in charge of your child's unit. If you cannot get an answer, call DCYF's main office, 101 Friendship Street, Providence, RI 02903, at 401-528-3500.
For an adult at the ACI, RIDOC's intake guide says every new person sees a nurse, and medicine and doctor visits cost nothing for people still awaiting trial. The Medical Program Director's office is at 401-462-2678.
↑ Back to the question list16. Is there a warrant out for my child or another relative?
Town police and the Rhode Island State Police serve warrants. The State Police fugitive task force, 401-921-8130, works alongside the U.S. Marshals. Wanted pages run by government agencies: the FBI's list, the Rhode Island State Police list and the Marshals' 15 most wanted fugitives. For one person, phone the town police or the court clerk. A missed hearing can lead a judge to issue a bench warrant. The fix is to go to that court with a lawyer and face it. Youth matters: Juvenile Clerk, Garrahy Judicial Complex, One Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI 02903, 401-458-3290. Adult matters: District Court, 401-458-5403.
↑ Back to the question list17. County by county: who has my child's court date?
Call the Family Court clerk for the county where the arrest happened. Each also has a defender office:
- Bristol County: no courthouse in the county, so Barrington, Bristol and Warren teens go to Family Court at the Garrahy Judicial Complex, One Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI 02903, where the Juvenile Clerk's Office answers at 401-458-3290. Defender at Garrahy: 401-458-3050.
- Kent County: Family Court on the third floor of the Noel Judicial Complex, 222 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886, 401-822-6725. Defender, Suite 100: 401-822-6875.
- Newport County: the Murray Judicial Complex, 45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840, 401-841-8340. Defender: 401-841-8320, with walk-ins Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Providence County: Garrahy as well, with the same Juvenile Clerk's Office taking the petitions police file. The Family Court main line is 401-458-5300. This is the center's home county.
- Washington County: the McGrath Judicial Complex, 4800 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879, 401-782-4111, which also serves Block Island families. Defender, Suite 243: 401-782-4180.
Hearing steps from start to finish are on our court page.
↑ Back to the question list18. Charged federally: how do I trace the person?
- Federal charges go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, One Exchange Terrace, Providence, RI 02903, 401-752-7200.
- Next comes a detention hearing (18 U.S.C. 3142). A federal judge rules there on whether the defendant may wait for trial outside a cell.
- The U.S. Marshals, 2 Exchange Terrace, Room 323, Providence, RI 02903, 401-824-7610, keep federal pretrial prisoners, mostly at the Wyatt Detention Facility, 950 High Street, Central Falls, RI 02863, 401-729-1190.
- When a sentence begins, the BOP inmate locator shows which federal prison has the person. A BOP register number makes it exact.
19. ICE took custody: how do I locate them?
- ICE can place a detainer, Form I-247A, on a person in custody.
- That detainer can keep the person up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
- If ICE takes over, Rhode Island detainees may go to Wyatt, 950 High Street, Central Falls, RI 02863, 401-729-1190.
- Type the name into the ICE Online Detainee Locator.
The Governor's office said in February 2024 that Rhode Island does not hold people on an ICE detainer by itself, pointing to the 2015 First Circuit ruling in Morales v. Chadbourne. The ICE Boston Field Office, 1000 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803, 781-359-7500, covers this state.
↑ Back to the question list20. My child turned 18: how do I find them in adult custody?
- Go to the RIDOC inmate search. A disclaimer appears first; accept it to reach the search box.
- Search the last name, then note the RIDOC inmate ID number.
- For an official answer, call Records and ID at 401-462-3900. RIDOC's automated line, 401-414-2871, runs 24 hours and gives location, charges and bond facts.
After an adult sentence, a man is classified and moved to a building that fits. A woman stays at the Gloria McDonald Women's Facility, 20 Fleming Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-0787. JE's Rhode Island state prisons page lists the prisons.
↑ Back to the question list21. Sentenced to the Training School: what changes?
When the Family Court hands down a sentence, it may be carried out right at the center, because DCYF keeps sentenced youth there as well as detained ones. Visits and calls follow the same handbook. A youth who earns a higher level can get extra visits. Ask the defender how long the sentence runs and whether the judge will review it.
↑ Back to the question list22. Which local or state police force arrested my child?
Look for the town where police picked your child up. Each line below is a non-emergency number.
Bristol County's three towns
- Barrington Police Department, 100 Federal Road, Barrington, RI 02806, 401-437-3935
- Bristol Police Department, 395 Metacom Avenue, Bristol, RI 02809. For phone help, call the Portsmouth Barracks in the State Police group.
- Warren Police Department, 1 Joyce Street, Warren, RI 02885, 401-245-1311
Kent County's five towns
- Coventry Police Department, Main Street, Coventry, 401-826-1100
- East Greenwich Police Department, 176 First Avenue, East Greenwich, RI 02818, 401-884-2244
- Warwick Police Department, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, Warwick, RI 02886, 401-468-4200
- West Greenwich Police Department, 280 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, RI 02817, 401-397-7191
- West Warwick Police Department, 1162 Main Street, West Warwick, RI 02893, 401-821-4323
Newport County's six towns
- Jamestown Police Department, 250 Conanicus Avenue, Jamestown, RI 02835, 401-423-1212
- Little Compton Police Department, 60 Simmons Road, Little Compton, RI 02837, 401-635-2311
- Middletown police at the Public Safety Complex, 123 Valley Road, Middletown, RI 02842, 401-846-1144
- Newport Police Department, 120 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840, 401-847-1306
- Portsmouth Police Department, 2270 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871, 401-683-0300
- Tiverton Police Department, 20 Industrial Way, Tiverton, RI 02878, 401-625-6717
Providence County, the capital and its close neighbors
- Providence Police Department, 325 Washington Street, Providence, RI 02903, 401-272-3121
- Cranston Police Department, 5 Garfield Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-942-2211
- East Providence Police Department, 175 Waterman Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914, 401-435-7500
- North Providence Police Department, 1835 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence, RI 02904, 401-231-4533
- Johnston Police Department, 1651 Atwood Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919, 401-231-4210
Providence County, Blackstone Valley and the north
- Pawtucket Police Department, 121 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860, 401-727-9100
- Central Falls Police Department, 160 Illinois Street, Central Falls, RI 02863, 401-727-7411
- Cumberland Police Department, 1380 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI 02864, 401-333-2500
- Lincoln Police Department, 100 River Road, Lincoln, RI 02865, 401-333-8281
- Woonsocket Police Department, 242 Clinton Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895, 401-766-1212
- North Smithfield Police Department, 401-762-1212
- Burrillville Police Department, 1477 Victory Highway, Oakland, RI 02858, 401-568-6255
Providence County, the western hill towns
- Smithfield Police Department, 215 Pleasant View Avenue, Smithfield, RI 02917, 401-231-2500
- Glocester Police Department, 162 Chopmist Hill Road, Chepachet, RI 02814, 401-568-2533
- Scituate Police Department, 1301 Chopmist Hill Road, Scituate, RI 02857, 401-821-5900
- Foster Police Department, 182 Howard Hill Road, Foster, RI 02825, 401-397-3317
Washington County's nine towns
- Charlestown Police Department, 4901 Old Post Road, Charlestown, RI 02813, 401-364-1212
- Exeter has no town department. The State Police patrol it, so ask headquarters in the State Police group which barracks has the case.
- Hopkinton Police Department, 406 Woodville Road, Hopkinton, RI 02833, 401-377-7750
- Narragansett Police Department, 40 Caswell Street, Narragansett, RI 02882, 401-789-1091
- New Shoreham Police Department on Block Island, 10 Beach Avenue, New Shoreham, RI 02807, 401-466-3220
- North Kingstown Police Department, 8166 Post Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852, 401-294-3316
- Richmond Police Department, 1168 Main Street, Wyoming, RI 02898, 401-539-8289
- South Kingstown Police Department, 1790 Kingstown Road, Wakefield, RI 02879, 401-783-3321
- Westerly Police Department, Airport Road, Westerly, 401-596-2022
State Police
- Headquarters and Scituate Barracks, 311 Danielson Pike, North Scituate, RI 02857, 401-444-1000
- Lincoln Woods Barracks, 1575 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, RI 02865, 401-444-1100
- Portsmouth Barracks, 838 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871, 401-444-1066
- Wickford Barracks, 7875 Post Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852, 401-444-1064
- Hope Valley Barracks, 54 Nooseneck Hill Road, Richmond, RI 02898, 401-444-1068
Campus, airport, tribal and other state police
- Public Safety at Roger Williams University, One Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809, 401-254-3611
- Salve Regina University Public Safety, 100 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport, RI 02840, 401-341-2325
- Brown University Department of Public Safety, 75 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02912, 401-863-3322
- Providence College Office of Public Safety, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI 02918, 401-865-2391
- Bryant University Department of Public Safety, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917, 401-232-6001
- Rhode Island College has campus police of its own; the college can connect you.
- University of Rhode Island Police, 85 Briar Lane, Kingston, RI 02881, 401-874-4910
- CCRI Campus Police, all campuses, 400 East Avenue, Warwick, RI 02886, 401-825-2109
- RIAC Police at T.F. Green airport, 2000 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886, 401-691-2247
- Narragansett Indian Tribal Police, 4375-B South County Trail, Charlestown, RI 02813, 401-364-1100
- Capitol Police, 1 Capitol Hill, Suite 200, Providence, RI 02908, 401-222-1840
- Environmental officers of DEM's Division of Law Enforcement, dispatch day and night at 401-222-3070
Information for this service is currently unavailable.
Training School Court Guide: Youth Cases in Every Rhode Island County
Every youth held at the Rhode Island Training School, 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, is there because a Family Court judge ordered it. DCYF runs this locked center for young people from all five counties, so a teen picked up in Westerly, Woonsocket or Tiverton can end up at this same center. Below: how Family Court works, its four buildings, and the waiver step that can shift a case into adult court.
For the state's own description of the center, open DCYF's youth detention page. Family Court youth files are closed to the public. Our Inmate Search page covers who is in custody, recent arrests, charges, warrants and public defender offices.
Make your first call to the Family Court Juvenile Clerk, 401-458-3290, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on court days. Ask three things: the date of the next hearing, the room, and the case number. To learn how a child is held or released, read our release and bail guide.
1. Which court takes a teen's case, and which takes an adult's?
Family Court hears cases against young people under 18. Adult charges start in District Court, and state law sorts them by the top penalty (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-1-2):
- Felony: more than a year in prison, or a fine over $1,000. District Court arraigns it. Superior Court then takes over, since it has original power over every felony.
- Misdemeanor: a year or less, a fine of $1,000 or less, or both. It stays in District Court, where a judge decides it with no jury.
- Petty misdemeanor: six months or less, a fine of $500 or less, or both.
Someone found guilty in District Court can appeal and get a whole new trial in Superior Court.
↑ Back to the question list2. Family Court near you: which building handles Training School cases?
Each county's youth cases go to one Family Court building, and a Public Defender office works inside each of those buildings. Police arrests feed into these clerks:
- Providence County, where 16 city and town forces and the State Police make arrests: Garrahy Judicial Complex, One Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI 02903, main line 401-458-5300. Police petitions go to the Juvenile Clerk's Office in the same building. Defender: Garrahy office, 401-458-3050. Attorney General: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903, 401-274-4400. The center itself is in this county.
- Bristol County, policed by Barrington, Bristol and Warren officers and the State Police: no courthouse of its own, so its teens go to Garrahy too. The defender's main office, 160 Pine Street, Providence, RI 02903, 401-222-3492, can also help. Prosecutors come from the Providence office.
- Kent County, policed by Warwick, Coventry, West Warwick, East Greenwich and West Greenwich: Noel Judicial Complex, 222 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886, 401-822-6725. Defender (Suite 100): 401-822-6875. Attorney General at Noel: 401-822-6800.
- Newport County, with six town forces: Murray Judicial Complex, 45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840, 401-841-8340. Defender: 401-841-8320, walk-ins on Thursday mornings. Attorney General: Eisenhower Square, Newport, RI 02840, 401-841-8310.
- Washington County, with eight town forces and State Police patrols in Exeter: McGrath Judicial Complex, 4800 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879, 401-782-4111. Defender (Suite 243): 401-782-4180. Attorney General: 401-782-4150. A Block Island teen's case comes to Wakefield on the mainland.
3. Which adult facilities matter if the case leaves Family Court?
Adults in state custody are housed at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston, run by RIDOC, or at a federal jail in Central Falls. A teen meets this system only after turning 18 or after a waiver to adult court:
- Anthony P. Travisono Intake Service Center, 18 Slate Hill Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-2285: the men's jail for intake, pretrial holds and classification of the newly sentenced.
- Gloria McDonald Women's Facility, 20 Fleming Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-0787: the only women's building, for pretrial, minimum, medium and work-release women.
- Maximum Security Facility, 1375 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-2053: the oldest prison in use, for long terms and serious discipline cases.
- High Security Center, 54 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-2028: supermax housing under close custody.
- John J. Moran Medium Security Facility, 51 West Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-3771: medium custody for sentenced men.
- Minimum Security Facility, 16 Howard Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-2162: minimum custody, with jobs inside, on public projects or in work release.
- Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility, 950 High Street, Central Falls, RI 02863, 401-729-1190: a federal jail. It holds people for the Marshals, ICE and federal prisons, and a city corporation runs it.
4. How does a case that ends at the Training School begin?
It starts with a police arrest and a written petition. The Juvenile Clerk's Office at the Garrahy Judicial Complex, One Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI 02903, 401-458-3290, processes the "wayward" and "negligent" petitions police bring, along with DCYF's petitions. The office works 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on court days.
A child can be held at the Power Road center only on a Family Court order. If your child is held, ask the clerk two things: when the next hearing is, and which county's Family Court will hear it.
↑ Back to the question list5. First hearing: can the judge send my child to RITS?
Yes. A Family Court judge may order a youth held there while the case goes on. DCYF calls that being "detained." If the judge does not order the child held, the written order says what happens instead.
The first hearing is the arraignment, when the court takes up the petition. Right after it, the Public Defender interviews both the child and the parents. Bring any papers police gave you, and ask the defender what the judge ordered and when the court will look at it again.
↑ Back to the question list6. How can a youth case end?
If the judge finds the petition proven, the child is "adjudicated," and the court picks what comes next. One option is a sentence at the center, since DCYF serves youth after a finding too, not only those waiting. Other outcomes depend on the judge's order. Ask the defender to walk you through each choice before your child agrees to anything.
↑ Back to the question list7. When can a Training School case move to adult court?
A Family Court judge must first hold a waiver hearing (R.I. Gen. Laws § 14-1-7). The rules:
- The Attorney General must ask, by motion, within 30 days of the child's arraignment.
- The court holds a hearing under § 14-1-7.1.
- Waiver is possible for a charge that would bring life in prison for an adult. The statute names no lowest age for that group.
- It is also possible for a youth 16 or older charged with what would be a felony for an adult.
Certification under § 14-1-7.2 is a separate path the law allows. If the case is waived, adult courts take it over.
↑ Back to the question list8. If the case turns adult, how does it move through court?
- Misdemeanor. District Court arraigns and tries it. A judge alone decides. After a guilty finding, an appeal brings a fresh trial in Superior Court, where a jury is available.
- Felony. District Court arraigns and screens it. The Attorney General then files an information, a charge built on a sworn police statement, or a grand jury, which seats 13 to 23 citizens, votes an indictment. Murder, rape, robbery and burglary still need an indictment. A trial jury has 12 members plus 2 alternates.
- Filing. Some lesser complaints can be placed "on file," a pause the judge sets for a fixed period (R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-10-12). With no new trouble, the complaint is erased, and no criminal record results. Felonies generally do not qualify.
- Deferred sentence. After a plea, the person signs a written deal of up to five years. Keeping every term means no sentence and a chance to clear the record (R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-19-19).
Superior Court also runs a Diversion Program with the Attorney General, set up in 2020, for people who qualify.
↑ Back to the question list9. Shoplifting, assault, DUI: what can an adult case cost?
Top penalties for common adult charges:
- Shoplifting, first time: the fine is the larger of $50 or double the price, capped at $500, plus as much as a year in jail (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-20).
- Simple assault or battery: as much as one year and a $1,000 fine (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-3).
- First DUI with a blood alcohol level from .08 to just under .10: a fine of $100 to $300, community restitution of 10 to 60 hours, as much as a year behind bars and a license suspension of 30 to 180 days (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2).
- Stealing $1,500 worth or less: as much as a year and a $500 fine (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-5).
- Breaking and entering a home, first time: at least 2 and as many as 10 years (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-2).
- An assault that seriously injures someone: as many as 20 years (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-2).
10. Adult court by town: which District and Superior Court?
The town where the arrest happened picks the District Court division, and some towns cross county lines to get there (R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-8-2). Find yours:
- Bristol County. Warren, Bristol and Barrington: Sixth Division, Garrahy Judicial Complex, One Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI 02903, 401-458-5400. Felonies go to Superior Court at the Licht Judicial Complex, 250 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02903, 401-222-3250.
- Kent County. Every town: Third Division at the Noel Judicial Complex, 222 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886, 401-822-6750. The clerk for the county's Superior Court there: 401-822-6900.
- Newport County. Every town: Second Division at the Murray Judicial Complex, 45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840, 401-841-8350. The clerk for Superior Court in that building: 401-841-8330.
- Providence County. Woonsocket, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cumberland, Burrillville, East Providence and Providence use the Sixth Division at Garrahy, with felonies at Licht. Johnston, Cranston, Smithfield, North Providence, Lincoln, Scituate, Glocester, Foster and North Smithfield are heard in Warwick by the Third Division. For those towns, a felony transfer goes to the Kent County Superior Court under the same law, so check the courthouse with the clerk.
- Washington County. Westerly, South Kingstown, Narragansett, Charlestown, Hopkinton, Richmond, Exeter and New Shoreham: Fourth Division at the McGrath Judicial Complex, 4800 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879, 401-782-4131. The clerk for Superior Court there: 401-782-4121. North Kingstown is handled in Warwick by the Third Division.
11. What changes for the most serious charges?
- When an adult would face life for the same act, the waiver law names no minimum age (R.I. Gen. Laws § 14-1-7).
- In adult court, a fight over bail on a life charge goes to a Superior Court hearing (R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-13-1.1).
- For these charges, a District Court judge can send the person to a Superior Court justice. That must happen within 48 hours. Weekends and legal holidays do not count.
- Murder, rape, robbery and burglary need a grand jury indictment.
- Superior Court keeps a Gun Court Calendar for weapon cases.
12. Who prosecutes a youth, and who defends one?
Rhode Island has no district attorneys. The Office of the Attorney General prosecutes all felonies and many misdemeanors statewide, and it is the office that files any waiver motion. Main office: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903, 401-274-4400.
The Office of the Public Defender defends youth in Family Court. Income alone does not decide who qualifies; staff look at income, assets, expenses and debts. Main office: 160 Pine Street, Providence, RI 02903, 401-222-3492, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Family cases: 401-222-5225.
↑ Back to the question list13. Can anyone read a youth court file?
No. Records of juvenile cases in Family Court are left out of Rhode Island's public records (R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(C)). Parents should get case papers from the defender or ask the clerk what they may see.
For an adult case, the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal shows the docket: parties, events and filings by date. Documents are shown at public terminals in the clerks' offices during business hours. The portal leaves out sealed files and confidential case types. Court hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
↑ Back to the question list14. Warrant worries: how is one found and cleared?
Warrants here are served by town police and the Rhode Island State Police, whose Violent Fugitive Task Force (401-921-8130) partners with the U.S. Marshals. Wanted posters from official agencies: the State Police list, the FBI's fugitives and the Marshals' top 15. Phoning is the surest way to learn if one name has a warrant: try the court clerk first, then local police. A skipped hearing often leads to a bench warrant. To clear it, the person appears at the issuing court, best with a lawyer. Youth cases: Juvenile Clerk, Garrahy Judicial Complex, One Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI 02903, 401-458-3290. Adult cases: District Court criminal line, 401-458-5403.
↑ Back to the question list15. How does a federal case work in Rhode Island?
Federal crimes go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, One Exchange Terrace, Providence, RI 02903. The clerk's office answers at 401-752-7200, weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- A detention hearing comes first (18 U.S.C. 3142). There, a federal judge chooses between freedom on conditions and a cell until trial.
- Federal prisoners who are not freed are kept by the U.S. Marshals. Office: 2 Exchange Terrace, Room 323, Providence, RI 02903, 401-824-7610.
- Federal pretrial detainees in this state are housed at the Wyatt Detention Facility, 950 High Street, Central Falls, RI 02863, 401-729-1190.
- Federal prison stays after sentencing appear on the BOP inmate locator.
16. Immigration hold during a youth or adult case: what happens?
Court dates continue as normal. The immigration side runs on its own track:
- Immigration officers may lodge Form I-247A with whoever has custody.
- Federal rules let that request hold someone up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
- ICE may take custody then. In this state, its detainees can be held at Wyatt, 950 High Street, Central Falls, RI 02863, 401-729-1190.
- The ICE Online Detainee Locator shows where someone is held.
Rhode Island adds a limit of its own. A statement from the Governor's office in February 2024 says the state cannot keep someone locked up on an ICE detainer and nothing else. That position rests on Morales v. Chadbourne, a 2015 First Circuit decision. ICE's Boston Field Office covers the state: 1000 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803, 781-359-7500. A youth or parent who is not a citizen should talk to an immigration lawyer early.
↑ Back to the question list17. Sentenced in Family Court: is time served at the Training School?
It can be. DCYF's center holds sentenced youth as well as those awaiting a decision. Call the center, 57 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920, at 401-462-7390, to ask how visits and reviews work during the sentence.
An adult sentence follows a different path. Men are classified at the Intake Service Center, 18 Slate Hill Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-2285, then moved to a building that fits. Women remain at the Gloria McDonald Women's Facility, 20 Fleming Road, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-0787. Use the RIDOC inmate search and JE's state prison list for Rhode Island. Adult Probation and Parole: Dix Building, 18 Wilma Schesler Lane, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-0382.
↑ Back to the question list18. Hurt by a crime: what support can victims count on?
Rhode Island's constitution gives crime victims their own rights (R.I. Const. art. I, § 23). Officials must treat them with care and respect. A victim may also address the court before sentencing.
- RI-VINE gives free, anonymous calls about an adult's release or move from RIDOC custody. Sign up at VINELink or through RIDOC Victim Services, 401-462-0381.
- The Crime Victim Compensation Program, 50 Service Ave, Warwick, RI 02886, 401-462-7655, pays up to $25,000 for costs such as medical care, counseling and lost pay. Two deadlines apply: a police report within 15 days, and a claim within three years.
- For help during a felony case, the Victim Services Unit at the Attorney General's office can explain your rights. Dial 401-274-4400, then choose 7.
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Providence County County Jails
- Jail (Main): 401-462-7390
The Rhode Island Training School serves the following cities and towns of Providence County: Burrillville, Central Falls, Cranston, Cumberland, East Providence, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Providence, Scituate, Smithfield and Woonsocket. At times this facility may also house inmates arrested in the following counties: Bristol County, Kent County, Newport County and Washington County.