10 Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Providence, RI

This guide covers 10 criminal defense firms with offices in Providence, Rhode Island, and compares them on four concrete criteria: the professional background of the lead attorneys (former prosecutors, former public defenders, military and federal experience), how much of the practice is dedicated to criminal defense rather than spread across unrelated areas, which courts the firm regularly appears in (Rhode Island District Court, Superior Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island), and whether the firm is reachable around the clock after an arrest. The list spans solo practitioners, boutiques and mid-size litigation firms, and covers DUI defense, violent crime, drug cases, white-collar matters and appeals.

When you compare firms, three questions matter most. Does the attorney regularly try cases, or only negotiate pleas? Do they know how the State builds the specific charge you face, whether that comes from prosecuting it or from defending hundreds like it? And can they handle the parallel proceedings that follow an arrest, such as license consequences, bail conditions, probation violations and expungement?

Here is the list of the best criminal defense attorneys in Providence, RI:

1. Ellison Law LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: David Ellison, Founding Attorney
• Headquarters: 225 Dyer St, 2nd Floor, Providence, RI 02903 (additional office: 161 S Main St, Fall River, MA 02721)
• Phone: 401-230-5520
• Website: dellisonlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (assault, domestic violence, firearms offenses, drug crimes, burglary, robbery, larceny, probation violations, juvenile defense, expungement and record sealing), DUI defense including breathalyzer refusal and commercial DUI, traffic offenses
• Firm Size: Boutique criminal defense firm with three attorneys (David Ellison, Justin Lisi, Angelica Bovis) and dedicated operations staff
• Practice Area Page: Providence Criminal Defense Lawyer
• Social Profiles: Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram

David Ellison founded Ellison Law LLC to build a practice devoted entirely to criminal defense, and the firm’s work reflects that focus. The attorneys handle everything from misdemeanors to felonies punishable by life in prison, and David Ellison has been selected to Super Lawyers, while the firm has been recognized with Rhode Island Professional Excellence awards in 2023, 2024 and 2026.

What sets Ellison Law apart is the breadth of charge-specific coverage within a single criminal defense practice. The firm maintains dedicated pages and defense strategies for charges such as firearms offenses, assault on a police officer, 46G bail violations, casino crimes and breathalyzer refusal, and its attorneys handle cases in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, which helps clients with charges on both sides of the state line. The Providence office on Dyer Street sits a short walk from the courthouses downtown.

2. Marin & Murphy Law Firm

• Attorney/Key Figure: Matthew T. Marin and Stefanie A. Murphy, Partners
• Headquarters: 177 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903 (additional offices in East Greenwich, Cranston and South Kingstown)
• Phone: (401) 269-3381
• Website: matthewtmarin.com
• Practice Areas: DUI and chemical test refusal, domestic violence, felony defense, federal criminal defense, drug charges, assault, sex crimes, homicide, probation violations, expungement
• Firm Size: Boutique with two partners and additional attorneys; the firm reports 40+ years of combined experience and 2,500+ Rhode Island cases defended
• Practice Area Page: Rhode Island Federal Criminal Defense

Matthew Marin prosecuted cases at the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office before founding the firm in 2008, and the firm credits him with two statewide constitutional rulings, the Zimmerman DUI rights form challenge and the Corcoran Miranda decision at the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Stefanie Murphy brings 20+ years of felony trial experience, including a not guilty verdict in State v. Winslow (2023), a murder case in which co-defendants received life sentences, and she is editor of the MCLE practice manual A Practical Guide to Trying DUI Cases in Rhode Island.

Both partners are admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, and the firm answers calls live 24 hours a day and quotes flat fees rather than hourly rates. With four offices statewide, the firm covers every district and superior court, though Providence is one location among several rather than the firm’s only base.

3. Law Office of John L. Calcagni III

• Attorney/Key Figure: John L. Calcagni III, Founding Attorney
• Headquarters: 72 Clifford St, Suite 300, Providence, RI 02903
• Website: calcagnilaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense in state and federal court, DUI, accident and injury matters
• Firm Size: Solo practice

John Calcagni is a former military prosecutor, and that courtroom background shapes a trial-focused practice. He is licensed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, represents clients in the Rhode Island federal court as well as Massachusetts federal and district courts, and is a member of the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

The firm’s distinguishing feature is its range of court coverage for a solo office: state cases in Providence, federal matters, and cross-border cases in Massachusetts all run through one attorney. As a solo practice, clients get direct access to Calcagni himself, though there is no bench of partners to cover a scheduling conflict in a multi-defendant case.

4. The Law Office of Thomas C. Thomasian, Esq.

• Attorney/Key Figure: Thomas C. Thomasian, Founding Attorney
• Headquarters: 72 Pine Street, Suite 1B, Providence, RI 02903
• Phone: (401) 312-4385
• Website: thomasianlaw.com
• Practice Areas: DUI and criminal defense, including domestic violence, drug crimes, sex crimes, theft and violent crimes, felonies, probation violations, appeals, expungement, boating under the influence
• Firm Size: Solo practice with nearly 20 years of criminal defense experience

Tom Thomasian started as a public defender and has practiced only criminal defense since, representing clients in every district and superior court in Rhode Island. His website lists a 10.0 Avvo rating, a Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers recognition from the National Trial Lawyers, a 10 Best in Client Satisfaction distinction, and membership in the National College for DUI Defense.

The practice pairs general criminal defense with deep DUI work, including felony and multiple-offense DUIs, breathalyzer refusals and conditional hardship licenses, and Thomasian says he is available 24/7. Because it is a solo office, one attorney handles every stage of a case, which means continuity for the client but less capacity during back-to-back trial weeks.

5. Manosh Payette Criminal Defense Attorneys

• Attorney/Key Figure: Kara Hoopis Manosh and Elizabeth Payette, Attorneys
• Headquarters: 101 Dyer Street, Suite 2D, Providence, RI 02903
• Phone: (401) 854-7794
• Website: notguiltyri.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, appeals, white-collar crime, domestic violence defense and restraining orders, sex crimes, violent crimes, expungement
• Firm Size: Boutique

Kara Hoopis Manosh earned an LL.M. in Trial Advocacy from California Western School of Law with a specialty in federal criminal law, and she has trained with the Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Her profile also notes ongoing study in areas that increasingly decide serious cases, including neuropsychology, DNA analysis and criminal street gangs, and she is a member of the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

The firm stands out for its mix of appellate and white-collar capability alongside everyday trial defense, and for offering Spanish-language service pages for Providence clients. Client reviews on the firm’s listings emphasize Elizabeth Payette’s calm communication and outcomes such as dismissals and expungements. As a small boutique, its public footprint is lighter than some larger competitors.

6. Law Office of Jason Knight

• Attorney/Key Figure: Jason Knight, Founding Attorney
• Headquarters: 1 Turks Head Place, Suite 1440, Providence, RI 02903
• Phone: 401-865-6075
• Website: jasonknightlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, DUI, domestic violence, juvenile law
• Firm Size: Solo practice

Jason Knight is a former Special Assistant Attorney General who prosecuted violations of Rhode Island criminal law, including serious offenses such as child molestation and armed robbery, before opening his own office. He is licensed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in both state and federal courts, is a contributing author of the MCLE guide A Practical Guide to DUI in Rhode Island, and has trained law enforcement agencies on DUI enforcement topics.

That inside view of prosecution is the draw: Knight knows how the State assembles a case because he did it for years, and endorsements on his Avvo profile from other defense lawyers repeatedly point to that experience. The tradeoff of a solo office is that every case depends on a single attorney’s calendar.

7. The Law Office of Chad F. Bank

• Attorney/Key Figure: Chad F. Bank, Founding Attorney
• Headquarters: 127 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903
• Website: chadbanklaw.com
• Practice Areas: DUI defense, criminal defense, family law, personal injury
• Firm Size: Solo practice with 19+ years of Rhode Island experience

Chad Bank markets himself as “the RI DUI Guy,” and his practice is built around drunk-driving defense: traffic stops, field sobriety testing, breath testing and the prosecution methods used in DUI cases. He is a member of the National College for DUI Defense and the Rhode Island Bar Association, and he earned American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys client satisfaction honors in 2016 and 2017.

The office is available 24/7 and also handles traffic tickets and misdemeanors. Because DUI is the center of the practice and family law and personal injury sit alongside it, clients facing complex felony or federal charges may want to ask about trial experience in those areas specifically.

8. Fitch Law Partners LLP

• Attorney/Key Figure: Fitch Law Partners attorneys, Providence office
• Headquarters: 56 Pine St, Providence, RI 02903 (additional offices in Boston and Wellesley Hills, MA)
• Website: fitchlp.com
• Practice Areas: White-collar criminal defense and government investigations, criminal defense, business litigation, banking litigation, employment litigation, divorce and family law, arbitration
• Firm Size: Mid-size litigation firm, established 1984

Fitch Law Partners is a litigation firm whose lawyers largely started their careers at large Boston firms, and it competes with those firms’ litigation departments in state and federal courts. Its criminal practice centers on white-collar defense and government investigations, which suits business owners, executives and professionals facing regulatory or grand jury exposure rather than a street-level charge.

For a corporate or financial case, the firm’s civil litigation depth is an advantage, since parallel civil, banking and employment issues often follow a white-collar investigation. Because criminal defense is one area among many at a firm of this size, someone facing a routine misdemeanor or first-offense DUI will likely find a dedicated criminal boutique a better fit.

9. Lynch & Pine

• Attorney/Key Figure: Lynch & Pine attorneys
• Headquarters: 1 Park Row, 5th Floor, Providence, RI 02903
• Website: lynchpine.com
• Practice Areas: Felony and misdemeanor criminal defense, federal criminal defense, drug crimes, white-collar crimes, divorce and family law, personal injury, business law
• Firm Size: Small firm; FindLaw lists 31 years of experience and three Super Lawyers

Lynch & Pine serves Providence County and surrounding areas with a criminal defense practice that covers state felonies and misdemeanors as well as federal charges, drug crimes and white-collar cases. Its FindLaw profile lists three Super Lawyers and 31 years of experience, and it offers free consultations.

Few small firms in Providence span both state and federal criminal work alongside family and civil litigation, which can help clients whose criminal case overlaps with a divorce, injury claim or business dispute. The same breadth means criminal defense shares attention with several other practice areas.

10. Law Office of John R. Grasso

Attorney/Key Figure: John R. Grasso, Founding Attorney
Headquarters: 72 Clifford Street, Suite 300, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 272-4001
Website: johngrassolaw.com
Practice Areas: Criminal defense (misdemeanors, felonies, federal crimes), DUI, drug crimes, domestic violence, violent crimes, sex crimes, theft crimes, Title IX and college discipline defense, criminal appeals, post-conviction relief, divorce and family law
Firm Size: Solo-led practice; licensed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts since 2006
Practice Area Page: Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer
Social Profiles: Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Yelp, Avvo, Super Lawyers

John Grasso has defended misdemeanor and felony cases in Rhode Island District and Superior Courts, the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, Massachusetts District and Superior Courts, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and he is admitted to the federal district courts and the U.S. Supreme Court bar. He teaches Trial Advocacy and Criminal Litigation as an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University School of Law, has been selected to Super Lawyers every year since 2013, and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Grasso holds a 10.0 Avvo rating with 108 client reviews averaging 5.0, one of the largest review bases among Providence criminal defense lawyers, and has received Avvo Client’s Choice awards in most years since 2013. His practice also covers a niche few local firms advertise: defending college and university students in Title IX and campus misconduct proceedings, which often run alongside or ahead of a criminal case. He is available 24/7 and offers a free initial consultation. Because the practice also takes divorce and family cases, criminal defense is the main focus but not the only one.

Providence, RI  Criminal Defense Resources

• Rhode Island District Court : Misdemeanor arraignments and trials for Providence are held at the J. Joseph Garrahy Judicial Complex, 1 Dorrance Plaza, Providence. The page covers court locations, calendars and procedures.
• Rhode Island Superior Court : Felony cases are prosecuted at the Frank J. Licht Judicial Complex, 250 Benefit Street, Providence. The page links to court calendars, forms and administrative orders.
• U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island : Federal criminal cases are heard at the Federal Building and Courthouse, One Exchange Terrace, Providence. The Clerk’s Office can be reached at (401) 752-7200.
• Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal : Handles chemical test refusal charges and license matters that often run alongside a DUI case, at 670 New London Avenue, Cranston.
• Rhode Island Expungement Law, R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 12-1.3 :The state statute that defines who qualifies to have a criminal record expunged, including first offender and crime of violence rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in Rhode Island?

Misdemeanors carry up to one year in jail and fines up to $1,000 and are heard in Rhode Island District Court, where Providence cases go to the 6th District Court. Felonies carry potential sentences longer than one year and are prosecuted in Superior Court. Common misdemeanors include simple assault, first-offense DUI and disorderly conduct, while armed robbery, drug trafficking and aggravated assault are typical felonies. Marin & Murphy and Thomasian both publish plain-language breakdowns of this distinction.

What happens right after an arrest in Providence?

You are booked at the police station and, within about 48 hours, appear before a Bail Commissioner or Justice of the Peace who sets bail and release conditions. Formal arraignment follows in District Court, and for felonies the case moves to Superior Court. Providence felonies may also go through a pre-arraignment conference. Because evidence and witness accounts fade quickly, firms such as Ellison Law and Chad Bank’s office advertise round-the-clock availability so you can speak with a lawyer before arraignment.

Should I choose a solo attorney, a boutique or a larger firm?

A solo attorney such as Jason Knight or Tom Thomasian gives you direct access to one lawyer throughout the case. A boutique such as Ellison Law or Marin & Murphy adds colleagues who can cover hearings and share research. A larger litigation firm such as Fitch Law Partners brings civil and regulatory depth, which matters most in white-collar and government investigation matters. The right choice depends on the charge, the court and how much parallel legal exposure you face.

Does it help to hire a former prosecutor?

It can. Lawyers who prosecuted in the Attorney General’s Office, as Matthew Marin and Jason Knight did, or who served as military prosecutors, as John Calcagni did, know how the State evaluates evidence, builds charges and negotiates. Former public defenders such as Tom Thomasian bring a different strength: years of high-volume trial work across every Rhode Island court. Neither background is automatically better, so ask how often the attorney has tried cases like yours.

Can a Rhode Island criminal record be expunged?

Often, yes. Cases that end in dismissal or acquittal are generally eligible right away, while misdemeanor convictions typically become eligible five years after the sentence is completed and felony convictions after ten years, with exceptions for crimes of violence. Rhode Island amended its expungement laws several times in recent years. Ellison Law, Thomasian, Marin & Murphy and Manosh Payette all list expungement among their services.

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Providence?

Fees depend on the charge, the court and the complexity of the evidence. Some firms, including Marin & Murphy, quote flat fees up front instead of billing hourly, and several firms on this list offer free initial consultations. Federal cases generally cost more than state cases because of the added procedure and sentencing rules, and simple matters like expungements or first-offense misdemeanors typically cost less than violent felonies.

Disclaimer: For informational and educational use only-this content does not constitute legal advice or an endorsement of any specific attorney. Rhode Island criminal laws, state penalties, and lawyer credentials change over time and vary by jurisdiction. Always independently verify credentials through the Rhode Island Judiciary Attorney Search or the Rhode Island Bar Association, and consult qualified legal counsel regarding your specific situation before retaining representation.