Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 12-5.1 - Interception of Wire and Oral Communications
Section 12-5.1-12. - Suppression of evidence.

§ 12-5.1-12. Suppression of evidence.
(a) Any aggrieved person may move to suppress the contents of any intercepted wire, electronic, or oral communication or evidence derived from them on the grounds that:
(1) The communication was unlawfully intercepted;
(2) The order under which it was intercepted is insufficient on its face;
(3) The interception was not made in conformity with the order;
(4) Service was not made as provided in § 12-5.1-11; or
(5) The seal provided in § 12-5.1-8(b) is not present and there is no satisfactory explanation for its absence.
(b) A motion under this section shall be made before the trial, unless there was no opportunity to make the motion or the person was not aware of the grounds of the motion. If the motion is granted, the contents of the intercepted wire, electronic, or oral communication, or evidence derived from them, shall be treated as having been obtained in violation of this chapter. The judge, upon the filing of the motion by the aggrieved person, may in his or her discretion make available to the aggrieved person or the person’s counsel for inspection any portions of the intercepted communication or evidence derived from them that the judge determines to be in the interests of justice.
(c) If the motion shall be made before any court or judge other than the presiding justice of the superior court, the motion shall be transferred to the presiding justice of the superior court or to an associate justice of the superior court who shall be designated by the presiding justice, or by the associate justice in charge of the criminal calendar in Providence County whenever the presiding justice shall deem it necessary to disqualify himself or herself, for hearing and determination. No motion under this section shall be heard or determined by a district court in preliminary proceedings or otherwise.
(d) In addition to any other right of appeal, the state, by the attorney general, shall have the right to appeal from an order allowing a motion to suppress made under this section. The appeal shall be taken within thirty (30) days after the date of allowance of the motion to suppress. If the motion to suppress is allowed prior to trial, the appeal shall be decided prior to trial. If the motion to suppress is allowed during trial and the attorney general shall claim an appeal, the evidence shall be admitted at trial, and the question of admissibility reserved for the supreme court.
History of Section.P.L. 1969, ch. 55, § 1; P.L. 1980, ch. 100, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 167, § 2.

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