Providence County Court Records
A Providence County court record is any document such as orders, pleadings, notices, briefs, judgments, motions, exhibits, writs of execution, and other papers filed with a Providence County court. The Superior and District Court Clerks are the custodians of court records in Providence County, Rhode Island. These custodians maintain court records per the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules. In Providence County, court records are public and can be accessed online or in person at the court where a case was filed. Public access to court records holds the Providence County courts accountable, ensuring that oversights, errors, and injustices are transparent. This freedom helps elevate the justice system in the county to the highest standard of accuracy and integrity. Consequently, these records are categorized as part of Providence County Public Records and are disseminated to interested requesters unless otherwise determined by law or court order.
Are Court Records Public in Providence County?
Per the Rhode Island Public Records Act, anyone can inspect and/or copy court records maintained or kept by any court in Providence County. However, certain court records are deemed confidential in Providence County. Confidential court records are sealed court cases or documents or confidential case types, documents, or information. The Rhode Island Judiciary Rules of Practice Governing Public Access to Electronic Case Information provides a list of confidential court records:
- Juvenile records
- Child custody records
- Adoption records
- Mental health records
- Civil marijuana case records
- Termination of parental rights case records
- Expunged or otherwise sealed court records
- Sealed cases of acquitted or otherwise exonerated persons
- The address of any person requesting a protective order
- Records of victims of child molestation sexual assault
- Civil violations for possession of one (1) ounce or less of marijuana
- Cases initiated under the Insurance Rehabilitation and Liquidation Act
- Complaints for a Civil Protective Order when a juvenile is a party in the case
- Identifying information about crime victims and/or confidential informants
- Complaints for an Order of Protection from Domestic Violence under the Domestic Abuse Prevention Act, when a juvenile is a party in the case
- Complaints for an Order of Protection from Sexual Abuse under the Sexual Assault Protective Orders Act, when a juvenile is a party in the case
- Personal identifying information like full social security and taxpayer identification numbers, financial account numbers and statements, Driver's license numbers, passport numbers, and state identification numbers.
What Do Providence County Court Records Contain?
Below is the outline of what Providence County Court Records contain:
- Case summary (court location, case number, filing date, appearance date, and case parties
- Case information (offense name, statute, degree, and date, filing date, and case type and status)
- Party information (defendant and plaintiff's names and name of police officer)
- Dispositions (date, name of judicial officer, name of disposition)
- Case events (date and event type)
- Hearings (date, arraignment date, judicial officer's name)
- Financial information (defendant's name, total financial assessment, total payments and credits, balance due date, and transaction assessment)
Where to Conduct a Providence County Case Lookup
The public nature of court records in Procidence County allows residents to inspect or obtain copies of case information at the following record custodian offices:
- Rhode Island Supreme Court
- Rhode Island Family Court
- Rhode Island District Court
- Providence/Bristol Counties Superior Court Jurisdiction
How to Conduct a Providence County Case Records Search
Record seekers can use the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal to electronically access Providence County case information, whether at the courthouse or remotely.
- Courthouse Access to Case Information
All courts in Providence County have computer terminals available in their clerks' offices that individuals (Attorneys, self-represented litigants, case parties, and the public) can use to view public court documents during regular business hours. Access to sealed cases or confidential case types, documents, or information is impossible via these terminals.
- Remote Access to Case Information
The public, self-represented litigants, and case parties can remotely access the register of actions or docket. However, they are not permitted to access other electronic case information. Attorneys representing a person in a case can remotely access documents and information about the case the are handling. This access excludes access to sealed cases or documents. Attorneys can remotely access the register of actions or docket and public electronic case information, including documents of cases they are not directly involved in. State or federal agencies can access court records remotely after getting approval from the Supreme Court.
Attorneys and federal/state agencies can request remote access to case information by emailing a Request for Access to Case Information form to the Judicial Technology Center (JTC) at HelpDesk@courts.ri.gov. The Subscription Agreement section of the form must be signed. Upon receiving the form, A JTC representative will send the requester a username and password needed to access the Public Portal.
Providence County Civil Court Case Records
A civil court case record is any document, data, information, or other item created, filed, or maintained by a Providence County court that involves a dispute between or among parties. The Providence County Superior Court has jurisdiction over civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $10,000. These civil cases are handled per the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure. The Providence County District Court Civil Division has exclusive jurisdiction over all civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $5,000. The court has concurrent original jurisdiction with the Superior Court in civil cases where the amount in controversy is between $5,000 and $10,000.
Civil court case records are accessible online or in person at any courthouse. Online requests can be made through the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal. The search parameters are by name or case number. In-person requests can be made through the computer terminals available in court clerk offices.
Providence County Criminal Court Case Records
A criminal court case record is any information or document created, filed, or maintained by a Providence County court during a criminal case. The Providence County Superior Court has original jurisdiction over all felony cases. These felony cases are handled per the Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure. The District Court handles arraignments for misdemeanor and felony cases. Misdemeanor cases are punishable by a year jail term and fines not exceeding $1,000.
Individuals can get criminal court case records online through the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal or in person via the computer terminals available at Providence County Courts. The case party name or case number is required to perform a search, whether online or in person.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Per Rhode Island Judiciary Rules of Practice Governing Public Access to Electronic Case, individuals can access certain court records remotely in any Providence County court. Here is how to get court records online for free in Providence County:
- Go to the Rhode Island Judiciary's official website
- Scroll down and click on the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal link
- Click the Smart Search tool to search for court records
- Conduct a search by entering a name or case number in the search criteria field. Users can use the advanced option to filter their searches.
- Click the Submit button to complete the search
Courts in Providence County
Below are the addresses of all the courts in Providence County:
Providence County Superior Court
Licht Judicial Complex
250 Benefit Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 222-3250
6th Division District Court
Garrahy Judicial Complex
One Dorrance Plaza
Providence, RI 02903-2719
Phone: (401) 458-5400
3rd Division District Court
Noel Judicial Complex
222 Quaker Lane
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886-0107
Phone: (401) 822-6750
