§ 12-7-1. Temporary detention of suspects. A peace officer may detain any person abroad whom he or she has reason to suspect is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a crime, and may demand of the person his or her name, address, business abroad, and destination; and any person who fails to identify […]
§ 12-7-10. Resisting legal or illegal arrest. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use force or any weapon in resisting a legal or an illegal arrest by a peace officer, if the person has reasonable ground to believe that he or she is being arrested and that the arrest is being made […]
§ 12-7-11. Summons. (a) In any case in which a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed or is committing a misdemeanor, he or she may issue a summons to the person substantially in the following form: (Summons) STATE OF RHODE ISLAND To ………………………….. You are hereby summoned to appear […]
§ 12-7-12. Release of arrested person by officer. (a) The officer in charge of any police station shall consider the release of any person in his or her station who has been arrested without a warrant: (1) Without requiring the person to appear in court, when the officer is satisfied that there is no ground […]
§ 12-7-13. Repealed.
§ 12-7-14. Punitive damages for false arrest or imprisonment. In an action for false arrest or false imprisonment, the plaintiff, if successful, may be awarded punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 625, § 68; P.L. 1941, ch. 982, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 12-7-14.
§ 12-7-15. Severability. If any part of §§ 12-7-1 — 12-7-14 is for any reason declared void, its invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of those sections. History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 625, § 68; P.L. 1941, ch. 982, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 12-7-15.
§ 12-7-16. Arrest or seizure after commission of offense. The authority given to any one to arrest any person or seize anything, while the person is actually engaged or the thing is actually used or employed in the commission of any offense, shall not be so construed as to prevent, if not so arrested or […]
§ 12-7-17. Arrest of escapees and parole violators without warrant. The director of the department of corrections, the warden of the adult correctional institutions, any superintendent or employees connected with any institution under the management and control of the department of corrections, or any police officer or town constable, may arrest, without a warrant, any […]
§ 12-7-18. Temporary detention powers of National Guard. A National Guard member of the rank of sergeant or higher who is on emergency state duty pursuant to the call of the governor may detain any person abroad who he or she has reason to suspect is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a […]
§ 12-7-19. Arrest after close pursuit by officers from cities or towns. Any member of a duly organized municipal peace unit of another city or town of the state who enters any city or town in close pursuit and continues within any city or town in such close pursuit of a person in order to […]
§ 12-7-2. Search of detained person for weapons. A peace officer may search for a dangerous weapon any person he or she is questioning or about to question concerning any crime or suspected crime, whenever the officer reasonably believes that he or she is in danger from the person carrying a weapon, and if the […]
§ 12-7-20. Right to use telephone for call to attorney — Bail bondsperson. Any person arrested under the provisions of this chapter shall be afforded, as soon after being detained as practicable, not to exceed one hour from the time of detention, the opportunity to make use of a telephone for the purpose of securing […]
§ 12-7-21. “Peace officer” defined. “Peace officer,” as used within this chapter, means the following individuals or members of: (1) Rhode Island state police; (2) Any member of a municipal or local police department; (3) Rhode Island airport corporation police; (4) Rhode Island park police; (5) Rhode Island capitol police; (6) Rhode Island conservation officers; […]
§ 12-7-22. Electronic recording of custodial interrogations task force. (a) In order to: (1) Minimize the likelihood of a wrongful conviction caused by a false confession; and (2) Further improve the already high quality of criminal justice in our state, the general assembly creates a taskforce to investigate and develop policies and procedures for electronically […]
§ 12-7-3. Arrest without warrant for misdemeanor or petty misdemeanor. A peace officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person if the officer has reasonable cause to believe that the person is committing or has committed a misdemeanor or a petty misdemeanor, and the officer has reasonable ground to believe that person cannot be arrested […]
§ 12-7-4. Arrest without warrant for felony. A peace officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person for a felony, whenever: (1) The officer has reasonable ground to believe that a felony has been or is being committed and that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing it. (2) The person to […]
§ 12-7-5. Arrest on improper ground. If a lawful cause of arrest exists, the arrest shall be lawful even though the officer made the arrest on an improper ground. History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 625, § 68; P.L. 1941, ch. 982, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 12-7-5.
§ 12-7-6. Arrest on warrant not in possession of arresting officer. A peace officer may, without having a warrant in his or her possession, arrest any person for whose arrest a warrant has been issued, but after arrest, the warrant shall be shown to him or her as soon as practicable. History of Section.G.L. 1909, […]
§ 12-7-7. Methods of arrest. An arrest is made by the restraint of the person to be arrested or by his or her submission of his or her person to the custody of the person making the arrest. History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 625, § 68; P.L. 1941, ch. 982, § 1; G.L. 1956, § […]
