(a)  Jurisdiction of cases arising under § 16-19-1 may reside with juvenile hearing boards in those cities and towns that so desire to hear these cases and which have established juvenile hearing boards. Any municipal juvenile hearing board established pursuant to this section shall, prior to hearing any compulsory attendance cases, inform the chief judge of the family court, in writing, of its establishment and plan to hear compulsory attendance cases. In all other cases arising under § 16-19-1 jurisdiction shall be with the family court. The town of North Providence shall have the authority to establish a juvenile hearing board pursuant to this section.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 16-19-8

  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • 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.
  • 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

(b)  The family court shall also have authority to issue equitable orders, enforceable through contempt of court proceedings, needed to enforce § 16-19-1. As an alternative to the procedure set out in § 16-19-1, the school committee may file a civil complaint seeking injunctive relief in truancy cases. If the family court rules in favor of the school committee the court may issue an injunction, enforceable through contempt of court proceedings, requiring compliance with the compulsory attendance law. Neither prior resort to enforcement proceedings under § 16-19-1 nor a showing of irreparable injury shall be prerequisite to injunctive relief under this section.

History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 64, §§ 10, 16; P.L. 1902, ch. 1009, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 72, § 7; G.L. 1923, ch. 76, § 6; G.L. 1938, ch. 181, § 6; impl. am. P.L. 1944, ch. 1441, § 14; G.L. 1956, § 16-19-8; P.L. 1969, ch. 239, § 31; P.L. 1984, ch. 345, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 272, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 281, § 1.