A typical misdemeanor case in Providence District Court resolves in 3 to 6 months from arraignment, depending on continuances and pre-trial motions. Simple cases like first-offense possession or minor traffic violations can resolve in a single appearance. Cases involving suppression motions or contested factual issues take longer. Cases that resolve by plea agreement at the pre-trial conference are faster than cases that go to bench trial. Most Providence misdemeanor defendants are out of custody during the case, which removes the time pressure that custody adds to felony cases.
