Rhode Island Criminal Defense Attorneys
At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Rhode Island criminal defense attorneys who navigate the Superior Court, District Court, broad expungement and diversion options, and Rhode Island’s plaintiff-friendly procedural rules.
- Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
- Matched with a Rhode Island attorney in 24 hours
- 30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide
Free Rhode Island criminal defense case review
A Rhode Island attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.
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DearLegal is not a law firm and will not provide legal advice. DearLegal connects users to licensed attorneys.
How we match your Rhode Island criminal defense case
When you submit a Rhode Island criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.
Case type
A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.
Size and complexity
Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.
Jurisdiction and licensing
Your matter is decided under Rhode Island law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Rhode Island who regularly appears where your case would be heard.
Capacity and fit
Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.
Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.
DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.
Exhibit A
What happens with a criminal defense claim in Rhode Island
Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Rhode Island criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Rhode Island, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.
Exhibit B
When to call a criminal defense attorney in Rhode Island
Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.
Exhibit C
Criminal Defense cases we take in Rhode Island
Which one is closest to yours?
DUI
Rhode Island DUI under § 31-27-2 — BAC .08+ adult, .02 under 21, .04 CDL. First offense General Impairment: $100-$300 fine, 30-180 day license suspension. First offense .15+: enhanced. Third offense within 5 years felony. IID for many offenses under § 31-27-2.8.
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDrug possession and delivery
Rhode Island legalized recreational marijuana (2022, § 21-28.11-1 et seq.) — adults 21+ may possess up to 1 ounce public, 10 ounces home. Other controlled substances under § 21-28-4.01 — Possession (misdemeanor or felony depending on quantity), Possession with Intent to Deliver felony, Trafficking (§ 21-28-4.01.1) felony with mandatory minimums for certain quantities.
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewAssault
Rhode Island assault: Simple Assault (§ 11-5-3, misdemeanor 1-year max), Felony Assault (§ 11-5-2, serious bodily injury or with weapon, up to 20 years), Domestic Assault (§ 12-29-2 enhanced penalties), Assault with Intent to Murder (§ 11-5-1, up to 20 years).
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDomestic violence
Rhode Island DV cases under § 12-29 with mandatory arrest, DV protective order (§ 15-15), and DV diversion (§ 12-29-5.1) for first offenses. Federal § 922(g)(9) firearm ban applies; RI firearm restrictions for DV defendants. No-drop policies in Providence and other major jurisdictions.
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewTheft / Larceny
Rhode Island larceny under § 11-41-1 et seq. — Petit Larceny (under $1,500, misdemeanor up to 1 year), Grand Larceny ($1,500+, felony up to 10 years), Embezzlement (§ 11-41-3), Shoplifting (§ 11-41-20). Receiving Stolen Property tracks value tiers.
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewWhite-collar crimes
Rhode Island prosecutes theft, fraud, identity theft (§ 11-49.1-1 Identity Theft Protection Act), forgery (§ 11-17-1), and securities fraud through the AG. Federal exposure for wire fraud, healthcare fraud, securities fraud, and federal program fraud — significant Providence financial-sector cases.
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewGun and firearm charges
Rhode Island requires a license to carry concealed under § 11-47-11 (may-issue framework, restrictive in practice). Unlawful possession of firearm by prohibited person (§ 11-47-5) felony. Carrying without license (§ 11-47-8) felony. Federal § 922(g) prosecutions common.
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewSex offenses
Rhode Island sex offender registration under § 11-37.1-1 et seq. (Sexual Offender Registration and Community Notification Act) — Tier I, II, III based on offense. First-Degree Sexual Assault (§ 11-37-2) felony up to life. Child Molestation (§ 11-37-8.1) felony.
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewHomicide
Rhode Island homicide: First-Degree Murder (§ 11-23-1, mandatory life — RI abolished death penalty 1984), Second-Degree Murder (life with parole eligibility), Voluntary Manslaughter (up to 30 years), Involuntary Manslaughter (up to 30 years), DUI Death Resulting (§ 31-27-2.2).
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewJuvenile offenses
Rhode Island juveniles handled under Title 14 in Family Court. Waiver to adult court for 16+ for serious offenses under § 14-1-7.1. Capital offenses excluded from juvenile jurisdiction. Juvenile expungement under § 14-1-64.1.
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewProbation and parole violations
Rhode Island probation revocation under R.I.S.Ct. R. Crim. P. 32(f). State parole violations under § 13-8. Probation reforms have limited extension on technical violations. Rhode Island has unusually long probation tails for serious offenses.
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewFederal crimes in Rhode Island
One federal district (D.R.I., Providence). Common: drug trafficking (proximity to Boston/NYC corridor), § 922(g) felon-in-possession, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, organized crime (historic Patriarca family prosecutions and successor cases).
Sound like yours? A Rhode Island attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewExhibit D
How much do Rhode Island criminal defense attorneys cost?
Typical fee schedule
Rhode Island · Criminal Defense
Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.
Criminal Defense matters in Rhode Island are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.
Criminal defense attorneys in Rhode Island work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under R.I. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Rhode Island Public Defender represents indigent defendants statewide.
A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.
Exhibit E
What your Rhode Island criminal defense compensation can include
A Rhode Island criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.
Charge Dismissal
Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to dismiss for insufficient evidence, R.I.S.Ct. R. Crim. P. 48 dismissal by AG, or speedy trial dismissal.
Charge Reduction
Reduction from felony to misdemeanor, from violent to non-violent classification, removal of mandatory minimum allegations.
Diversion / Deferred Sentence
DV Diversion (§ 12-29-5.1), drug court, mental health court, deferred sentence (§ 12-19-19) — completion = automatic expungement. Pretrial diversion programs throughout the state.
Plea Agreement
Negotiated resolution under R.I.S.Ct. R. Crim. P. 11. Includes charge reductions, dismissed counts, recommended sentences, and probation in lieu of incarceration.
Trial Acquittal
Not guilty verdict by Rhode Island jury or judge. Rhode Island criminal juries are 12 for felonies, 6 for misdemeanors, and must be unanimous (R.I. Const. Art. I, § 10).
Post-Conviction Relief
Rhode Island PCR under § 10-9.1-1 et seq. — no fixed filing window. Includes IAC, newly discovered evidence, illegal sentence, constitutional violations. Successor petitions restricted by laches.
DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.
Exhibit F
Rhode Island criminal defense questions, answered
Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Rhode Island attorney will review it for free.
Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Rhode Island
Same Rhode Island rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.
