Yes. Rhode Island law allows juveniles 16 and older to be transferred to adult court for prosecution in serious felony cases including murder, sexual assault, certain violent crimes, and crimes involving firearms. The transfer decision is made by the Family Court after a waiver hearing where the prosecution argues for transfer. Once transferred, the juvenile is prosecuted as an adult with adult penalties including possible prison time and a permanent adult criminal record. Defense work focused on preventing the transfer at the waiver hearing is critical because the consequences of adult prosecution are dramatically worse than juvenile disposition. A juvenile defense lawyer experienced with transfer proceedings can often defeat the transfer motion.
