Providence County is located in northern Rhode Island, surrounding the state's capital, Providence. Unlike most counties, Providence County, established in 1703, does not have a county seat. The state government and municipalities handle the county government functions. Providence County has a population of approximately 660,000 residents and covers about 1,070 square kilometers.

Courts in Providence County

Providence County trial court system comprises a Superior, District,  Family, Probate, Municipal Courts, and Traffic Tribunal. The Superior Court in Providence County has original jurisdiction over felony proceedings and civil lawsuits where the amount in dispute exceeds $10,000.

The District Court has jurisdiction over criminal cases of misdemeanors where jury rights have been waived. It also handles civil claims for values less than $5,000 and landlord/tenant disputes. District Courts have a Small Claims Court division that handles civil claims for less than $2,500. The Family Court manages family and domestic relations cases, including divorce, child support, visitation rights, alimony, and paternity. The court also presides over juvenile cases, including child neglect, child abuse, and juvenile delinquencies.

The Probate Court has jurisdiction over probate matters, including administration of deceased estate, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships. The Municipal Courts in Providence County administers municipal ordinance violations such as traffic and local housing or zoning violations. The Traffic Tribunal has exclusive jurisdiction over offenses arising from violating state laws related to motor vehicle, littering, and traffic offenses.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Providence County

Public court records are court documents open to the public. Access to public court records in Providence County is available using the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal. In addition, the court clerk’s offices in the county make available computer terminals where record seekers may view public court records. Interested persons may also mail written requests to the relevant courthouses for public court records from the county.

Types of Public Court Records in Providence County

The following court records are publicly available to interested persons in Providence County:

• Criminal Court Records: Misdemeanor and criminal cases such as violent crimes, homicide, white collar crimes, simple assaults, and disorderly conduct
• Civil Court Records: Such as employment disputes, contract breaches, property disputes, and small claims
• Probate Records: Including wills, trusts, name changes, conservatorships, and guardianships
• Family Law Records: Divorce, child custody, alimony cases, and child support
• Traffic Tribunal Records: Traffic citations, speeding tickets, and illegal parking violations

Confidential Court Records in Providence County

Confidential court records are documents and papers submitted to or maintained by the courts, not readily accessible to the public. Confidential court records are sealed to protect the individual named on the court document. Confidential court records in Providence County include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Psychological and psychiatric evaluations
• Drug/alcohol treatment program records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Trade secrets

In addition, personal information contained in public court records is exempted from public view. Personal identifiers contain private information where disclosure may result in an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. The court redacts the following information from public court records:

• Social Security numbers
• Home addresses and personal email addresses
• Tax identification numbers
• Medical records
• Passport numbers
• Drivers license numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Providence, RI

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Providence County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Rhode Island often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1463 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Providence County. Of that total, 32% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 463 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Providence County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Providence County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Providence County, RI Courts