An alibi is a form of evidence used to defend against a criminal charge by demonstrating that the accused was somewhere other than the scene of the crime when the crime was committed.
In Rhode Island, as in other jurisdictions, an alibi is a defense strategy used in criminal proceedings where the defendant aims to prove they were in a different location at the time the alleged crime was committed and therefore could not have been involved in committing the crime. The burden is on the defendant to present evidence supporting the alibi, which can include witness testimony, receipts, videos, electronic tracking information, or any other documentation that establishes their whereabouts. Rhode Island Rules of Criminal Procedure require that if a defendant intends to rely on an alibi defense, they must notify the prosecution in advance of the trial, typically within a specified time frame after the defendant's plea. This notice must include specific information about the place where the defendant claims to have been, as well as the names and addresses of the witnesses they intend to use to support their alibi. This allows the prosecution to investigate the validity of the alibi and prepare for cross-examination of the witnesses. Failure to provide timely notice of an alibi can result in the exclusion of the alibi evidence at trial.