§ 12-3-1 Offenses triable by district court
§ 12-3-2 Power of district court over preliminary proceedings – Venue of offenses on public waters
§ 12-3-3 Jurisdiction of New Shoreham wardens’ court
§ 12-3-4 Venue of offenses
§ 12-3-5 Offenses in vicinity of county or division boundary – Offenses at sea – Offenses aboard steamboat or train
§ 12-3-6 Act within state resulting in death outside state
§ 12-3-7 Jurisdiction based on importation of stolen property
§ 12-3-8 Venue of larceny prosecutions
§ 12-3-9 Possession of property stolen outside state
§ 12-3-10 Enumeration of statutes of limitation

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 12-3 - Jurisdiction and Venue of Offenses

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • 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.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. Source: OCC
  • 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.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • 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