Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island funds and administers indigent defense services in adult criminal trials for most court levels. Local governments are responsible for services in other court levels. The state has no commission providing oversight of services.
The state of Rhode Island funds and administers all indigent defense services for adult criminal cases in its appellate court. A state agency and the state judiciary administer services. The state has no commission providing oversight of either the agency or the judiciary.
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5 Counties Primarily State Funded
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5 Counties Shared State and Locally Administered
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5 Counties with No Commission and Limited Authority
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5 Counties State Funded
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5 Counties State Administered
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5 Counties with No Commission, But Statewide Authority
The state of Rhode Island funds and administers indigent defense services in every court of the state, except for municipal courts where the state requires municipalities to fund and administer all services. For state-administered services, the Rhode Island Office of Public Defender provides primary representation through six offices located throughout the state. The agency also provides juvenile and appellate representation. For conflict representation, the Rhode Island Supreme Court administers a list of private attorneys paid hourly. The state does not provide indigent defense services for misdemeanors charged in the state’s municipal courts; municipalities must fund and administer these services.
The governor appoints a chief public defender to lead the Rhode Island Office of Public Defender. The chief is responsible for overseeing the delivery of indigent defense services by the agency. The state does not have a commission to provide oversight of the chief or the private attorneys managed by the state supreme court. The state does not oversee services provided by localities in municipal courts.
The state-funded Rhode Island Office of Public Defender (OPD) administers indigent defense services in all adult appeals statewide. OPD’s appellate division handles all appeals through staff public defenders. The agency also handles adult trial and juvenile representation. For conflict cases, the Rhode Island Supreme Court administers a list of private attorneys paid hourly.
The governor appoints a chief public defender to lead the Rhode Island Office of Public Defender. The chief is responsible for overseeing the delivery of indigent defense services by the agency. The state does not have a commission to provide oversight of the chief or the private attorneys managed by the state supreme court.
Dig Deeper
How is the chief public defender selected?
In which branch of state government does the indigent defense system reside?
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Criminal justice issues that disproportionately harm poor people, such as wrongful convictions and over-incarceration, cannot be fixed if indigent defendants are given attorneys who do not have the time, resources, or qualifications, to be a constitutional check on government. Yet, investment in improving indigent defense services remains largely neglected. The Sixth Amendment Center is the only nonprofit organization in the country that exclusively examines, uncovers, and helps fix the root of the indigent defense crisis in which inequality is perpetuated because poor defendants do not get a fair fight.
The Sixth Amendment Center is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under EIN: 45-3477185.
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