Rule 8 - Joinder of Offenses and of Defendants.(a)Joinder of Offenses. Two (2)or more offenses may be charged in the same indictment, information, or complaint in a separate count for each offense if the offenses charged, whether felonies or misdemeanors or both, are of the same or similar character or are based on the same act or transaction or on two (2) or more acts or transactions connected together or constituting parts of a common scheme or plan.(b)Joinder of Defendants. Two (2) or more defendants may be charged in the same indictment, information, or complaint if they are alleged to have participated in the same act or transaction or in the same series of acts or transactions constituting an offense or offenses. Such defendants may be charged in one (1) or more counts together or separately and all of the defendants need not be charged in each count.R.I. Super. Ct. R. Crim. P. 8
Last amended by Order dated June 22, 2017, effective 9/5/2017.1972 Notes
This rule is essentially the same as its federal counterpart. Although there are no similar provisions in the General Laws, the common law rule for joinder of counts and defendants appears to be in accord. See, e.g., State v. Hazard, 2 R.I. 474 (1853); State v. Maloney, 12 R.I. 251 (1879); State v. O'Brien, 18 R.I. 105, 25 A. 910 (1892); State v. Fitzsimon, 18 R.I. 236, 27 A. 446 (1893).
See also 1975 Notes to Rule 7.