R.I. Super. Ct. R. Crim. P. 18
Except as otherwise permitted by statute or by these rules, the prosecution and trial shall be had in the county in which the offense was committed.
R.I. Super. Ct. R. Crim. P. 18
1972 Notes
Rule 18 is basically the same as its federal counterpart and reflects the general statutory venue provision for criminal prosecution in the Superior Court. See G.L. 1956 (1969 Reenactment), § 12-17-1. The statutory exceptions to the general provision are contained in G.L.1956 (1969 Reenactment), § 12-17-1 (offenses committed in Bristol County); §§ 12-3-4 and 12-3-6 (main volume), 12-3-5 and 12-3-7 through 12-3-9 (Supp.1970) (crimes committed at sea, on Narragansett Bay or on or near county boundaries, or in cases of importation of property stolen outside Rhode Island, or in larceny prosecutions); § 11-26-3(kidnapping); § 11-43-8(treason). The exceptions provided for "by these rules" pertain to transfers under Rule 21 because of local prejudice, or for trial convenience, or for pre- or post-trial proceedings.