Rhode Island Bar Association

115 Cedar Street

Providence, Rhode Island 02903

http://www.ribar.com

The Rhode Island Bar Association is the unified bar association for the state of Rhode Island. Membership in the Rhode Island Bar Association is mandatory for any person licensed to practice law in the state. The association is committed to its purpose of defending the laws and Constitutions of Rhode Island and the U.S. while advancing the science of jurisprudence. The association is made up of several divisions and committees who work to enhance the practice of law, offer discounts and other extra benefits to members, and strengthen the relationship between the bar and the community. Continuing legal education (CLE) is an important issue to the Rhode Island Bar Association and participation in some of the 70+ credited courses offered throughout the year is mandatory.

Rhode Island Bar Association is not in compliance with the nationwide, public-facing, platform of record: The Brady List; or:

Supreme Court of the United States [SCOTUS] Brady doctrine (1963);
US Freedom of Information Act (1967);
State Sunshine Law (see, below);
Open Government Act (2007);
Open Government Initiative (2009); and,
Open Government Directives (2009) issued by the United States Department of Justice.

Prosecutors have ethical obligations and may be held individually accountable for their conduct within the legal system. Prosecutors contribute to just and honorable legal profession and a legal system that promotes fairness and accountability.

Violations of these rules can result in disciplinary actions which may include sanctions, suspension, or disbarment.

This information has been curated by journalists and private citizens; and, this platform is available as-a-service to all Peace Officer Standards & Training [POST] Departments, Prosecutors, and Law Enforcement Organizations [LEOrgs].

Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act

R.I. Gen. Laws §§38-2-1

The Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act, first enacted in 1979, is a law that guarantees access to public records of government bodies at all levels in Rhode Island. The act is defined in Chapter 38.2 of the Rhode Island General Laws and has been significantly revised in 1991, 1998 and 2008. Public records are all documents, no matter their physical form that are “made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency.”

Anyone can request public records, and no statement of purpose is required. According to the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act §38-2-6, it is illegal to use information obtained from public records to "solicit for commercial purposes, or to obtain a commercial advantage over the party furnishing that information to the public body." Rhode Island law allows 10 days for a public body to deny a request. If the agency does not respond within 10 days, it is deemed a denial.

We the People

We the People have a Right to Know according to the Supreme Court of the United States [SCOTUS], past Presidents (of both major political parties), Congress, and the United States Department of Justice. As an expression of that Right to Know, we have coordinated valuable information from a number of resources into a single, public-facing, searchable database.

Peace Officer Standards & Training [POST] Departments

Rhode Island Bar Association

Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act

We the People

Authorities

Precedents

Sources

Records

Open Letters

Articles

Resources

Our Priorities