R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-3-2: Power of district court over preliminary proceedings — Venue of offenses on public waters.

The district court for the division in which the court is situated shall have cognizance over all other crimes, offenses, and misdemeanors against the laws of the state other than those mentioned in § 12-3-1, which shall be done or committed within the division and legally brought before the court, and may cause all persons guilty or suspected to be guilty to be apprehended, examined, bailed, or committed to jail, according to law, to answer for the offense before the superior court, and the jurisdiction over crimes, offenses and misdemeanors committed on the public waters of the state, and within the jurisdiction or cognizance of the district court, may be exercised by the district court for any division adjoining the waters.