Overview

• Rhode Island is a state-funded court system. Their FY11 appropriation was reduced during the fiscal year.  Its FY11 appropriation of $99.8 million was increased to $101.9 million in FY12.  They will be able to maintain the same number of judges, but they will need to decrease the number of staff positions.  They will increase spending on operating costs in FY12.
• To reduce spending, the Rhode Island courts have delayed filling judicial vacancies and also vacancies in the clerks’ offices and in judicial support positions.  They have frozen the salaries of judges and staff.  The courts have imposed furloughs on judges and staff, with accompanying reductions in pay.
• These steps have resulted in delays in the issuance of bench warrants, the inability to expand interpreting services, delays in courtroom proceedings, delays in data entry, delays in mail processing, incomplete case records, and cancelation of the civil calendar.
• Technology initiatives include e-citations, e-payment of fees and fines, and the creation of an attorney portal.
• The courts out-sourced the bookkeeping function for child support enforcement which allowed court staff to be reallocated to other areas with the Family Court.
• The Rhode Island courts are in a worse position than a year ago in that they are operating with fewer staff, resulting in greater delays due to more continuances, incomplete files and overall lower production.

Reports and Articles

Gavel to Gavel

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