AJIS
Jurors must call the Automated Jury Information System (AJIS) at (401) 752-7290 after 5:00 PM on the evening before their scheduled appearance for their final reporting instructions. When calling into AJIS, jurors will need the 9-digit participant number located on their jury summons. In addition, jurors may also receive automated messages from AJIS about their upcoming jury service.
Compensation
Jurors are paid a $50.00 attendance fee per day plus the current federal government mileage allowance and tolls. (Taxi and bus fares are not reimbursable.) Please note that only those jurors who are instructed to report for jury service on a particular day will receive compensation. All payments are established by law and are not determined by the Court. Jurors will receive payment of their juror fee and expenses by check at a later date.
A parking stipend of $20.00 per day is provided to jurors presenting a parking receipt on their day of service. Several parking lots are located nearby the Courthouse. There is no all-day on-street parking near the Courthouse, and you should not park at a meter. You will receive this payment with your attendance fee.
Parking
Federal jurors are reimbursed $20 for parking per day by presenting a parking receipt to the Jury Office. The parking lot at the corner of Memorial Boulevard and Exchange Street is the closest parking to the Courthouse. (Of course, jurors may park at any of the downtown parking lots, but the Court only reimburses $20.) On the day of your jury service, do not park at the parking meters nearby the Federal Courthouse. Since your jury service will last at least half the day, you will likely receive a ticket if you park at meter. In addition, you will not be able to leave the Courthouse to add additional money to the meter during your jury service. Prospective jurors may also use the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) to get to the Federal Courthouse. Please consult the schedules located at www.ripta.com for more information.
Arriving
The Courthouse is located at 1 Exchange Terrace in downtown Providence. Click here for walking directions to the Courthouse from the Rhode Island Convention Center parking garage. All individuals entering the building are required to proceed through a security checkpoint and have any bags, packages, purses, etc. examined. A valid photo ID must be shown when entering the courthouse. Weapons of any kind are prohibited in the Courthouse. Electronic devices including cellular phones, laptop computers, sound recording equipment, photographic and broadcasting equipment are also prohibited. You will not be permitted to bring weapons or electronic devices into the building. Jurors should report neatly dressed to preserve the dignity of the Court. Please do not wear shorts, halter tops, or clothing with objectionable pictures, writings or logos. Please exercise good judgment in your choice of attire.
Failure to Appear
Title 28 United States Code, Section § 1864(b) states that persons who are summoned to appear for Federal Jury Service and fail to appear may then be ordered to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of court for non-compliance with the court summons. Persons then failing to appear or to show cause for non-appearance may be fined $1,000.00 and/or imprisoned for not more than three days and/or be required to perform community service.
COVID-19 Building Protocols
Cleaning and Protection: The Court will have enhanced cleaning throughout the Courthouse, especially in areas where you will be performing jury duty. The spaces where you will be sitting, as well as other areas in the Courthouse that you may enter, will be disinfected several times a day. Additionally, there will be hand sanitizer stations, disinfectant wipes, and surface disinfectant sprays available to you. We will provide masks for you to wear upon arrival at the Courthouse or you may bring a mask from home. You may be asked to wear a mask provided by the Court for continuity and to ensure a quality mask is worn.
The spaces where you will be located have dedicated air handler systems that have multiple layers of filters including ultraviolet lighting purification. We intend to run the system at maximum capacity to keep the flow of air constant. Additionally, some spaces will be outfitted with portable HEPA filters strategically placed in the courthroom. The Court closely monitors the output of carbon dioxide through the use of CO2 monitoring devices.
Scheduling: The presiding judge will provide you with the daily trial schedule when you appear for jury duty. The Court will take periodic breaks each day to minimize the amount of time you are present in courtroom and to provide for thorough cleaning of the courtroom at the conclusion of the day.
COVID-19 Arrival Protocols
When you complete your jury information form and supplemental questionnaire through eJuror, you will be asked a series of questions to help us determine whether you will be able to serve as a juror at this time. If you are instructed to appear for jury service, please review the below questions before coming to the Court. If you answer “yes” to any of the below questions, YOU MUST CALL (401) 752-7232. If your call is not answered, please leave a detailed message with your full name, your participant number, and your updated answer(s). In this situation, DO NOT REPORT to the courthouse until you receive further instructions.
1. Have you been diagnosed with, or had close contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 5 days?
2. Have you experienced any cold or flu-like symptoms in the last 10 days (including fever, cough, sore throat, respiratory illness, or difficulty breathing)?
3. Do you have a child at home who requires your direct supervision due to school and /or daycare closings? Note: This applies if there is no one else in the household who can provide care during jury service.