Section 14-1-1. – Short title.

§ 14-1-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be designated as the “Family Court Act”. History of Section.P.L. 1944, ch. 1441, § 39; G.L. 1956, § 14-1-7; impl. am. P.L. 1961, ch. 73, § 14.

Section 14-1-10. – Preliminary investigation on information furnished to court.

§ 14-1-10. Preliminary investigation on information furnished to court. Except in case of emergency detention, whenever any appropriate person shall give to the court information in his or her possession that a child is within the provisions of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the court to make a preliminary investigation to determine […]

Section 14-1-11. – Authorizing and filing petition.

§ 14-1-11. Authorizing and filing petition. (a) The filing of the petition constitutes assumption of jurisdiction over the child. Filing shall take place upon authorization by the intake department upon completion of its procedures pursuant to Rule 3 of the Rules of Juvenile Proceedings, upon authorization by a justice of the family court pursuant to […]

Section 14-1-11.1. – Commitment of voluntary placements.

§ 14-1-11.1. Commitment of voluntary placements. (a) The department of children, youth and families shall petition the family court and request the care, custody, and control of any child who is voluntarily placed with the department for the purpose of foster care by a parent or other person previously having custody and who remains in […]

Section 14-1-12. – Form and contents of petition.

§ 14-1-12. Form and contents of petition. (a) The petition shall plainly state the facts which bring the child within the provisions of this chapter, and shall set forth the name, age, and residence of: (1) The child; (2) The child’s parents; (3) The child’s other legal guardian, if there is one; (4) The person […]

Section 14-1-13. – Complaints pertaining to feeble-minded persons.

§ 14-1-13. Complaints pertaining to feeble-minded persons. Any complaint brought before the family court under the provisions of title 40.1 shall be brought by the person and in the manner set forth by title 40.1. History of Section.P.L. 1944, ch. 1441, § 18; G.L. 1956, § 14-1-13; impl. am. P.L. 1961, ch. 73, § 14.

Section 14-1-14. – Petitions for adoption.

§ 14-1-14. Petitions for adoption. Any petition for the adoption of any person under the age of eighteen (18) years shall be brought before the family court in the manner set forth in chapter 7 of title 15. History of Section.P.L. 1944, ch. 1441, § 18; G.L. 1956, § 14-1-14; impl. am. P.L. 1961, ch. […]

Section 14-1-15. – Warrants for offenses against children.

§ 14-1-15. Warrants for offenses against children. The family court is vested with authority to issue a warrant for any offense by any person as set forth in §§ 11-9-1 — 11-9-8 and chapter 9 of title 15. History of Section.P.L. 1944, ch. 1441, § 18; G.L. 1956, § 14-1-15; impl. am. P.L. 1961, ch. […]

Section 14-1-16. – Summons of child or adult in charge of child.

§ 14-1-16. Summons of child or adult in charge of child. Upon the filing of a petition, the justice, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for the petition, may issue a summons requiring the child to appear before the court at a time and place named in it, and shall also cause a summons […]

Section 14-1-17. – Service of summons.

§ 14-1-17. Service of summons. The summons shall require the person upon whom it is served to appear before the court at a time and place stated in it for a hearing on the petition, the allegations of which shall be set forth in the summons, and the summons shall be served by reading it […]

Section 14-1-18. – Process running throughout state — Persons authorized to serve.

§ 14-1-18. Process running throughout state — Persons authorized to serve. All summonses, warrants, orders, and other processes issued by the court shall run throughout the state and may be served by any officer authorized to serve the warrants of district courts or by any probation counselor, or by any officer of any private agency, […]

Section 14-1-19. – Failure to obey summons.

§ 14-1-19. Failure to obey summons. Any parent, guardian, lawful custodian, or other person having the care and control of a child, who shall willfully refuse or neglect to appear in court in accordance with any summons served upon him or her may be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) or be imprisoned not […]

Section 14-1-2. – Purpose of chapter.

§ 14-1-2. Purpose of chapter. The purpose of this chapter is: (1) To secure for each child under its jurisdiction the care, guidance, and control, preferably in his or her own home, that will serve the child’s welfare and the best interests of the state; (2) To conserve and strengthen the child’s family ties wherever […]

Section 14-1-20. – Release or placement of child in custody of officer.

§ 14-1-20. Release or placement of child in custody of officer. Whenever any officer takes a child into custody, he or she shall, unless it is impracticable or has been otherwise ordered by the court, accept the written promise of the parent, guardian, or other custodian of the child to bring the child to the […]

Section 14-1-21. – Release or detention of child under custody of court.

§ 14-1-21. Release or detention of child under custody of court. In the case of any child whose custody has been assumed by the court, the child may, pending the final disposition of the case, be released in the custody of a parent, guardian, or other custodian, or of a probation counselor or other person […]

Section 14-1-22. – Taking child into immediate custody.

§ 14-1-22. Taking child into immediate custody. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as forbidding any police officer or probation counselor from immediately taking into custody any child who is found violating any law or ordinance, or whose surroundings are such as to endanger his health, morals, or welfare, unless immediate action is […]

Section 14-1-23. – Place of detention of juveniles.

§ 14-1-23. Place of detention of juveniles. The board of police commissioners or other corresponding police authority of each city and town, and the city council of each city and town council of each town where no board of police commissioners or other corresponding police authority, exists, may provide and maintain, in their respective city […]

Section 14-1-24. – Care of girls detained.

§ 14-1-24. Care of girls detained. Whenever a girl is detained, she may be placed in the care of a police matron, and in the case of a city or town, the police matron may be one of those required to be appointed under the provisions of chapter 5 of title 13; and the board […]

Section 14-1-25. – Arrest of juveniles without warrant.

§ 14-1-25. Arrest of juveniles without warrant. Any officer authorized to make an arrest for any criminal offense may take into custody without a warrant any child believed to be delinquent or wayward within that officer’s jurisdiction, but in no case shall a child be detained in custody longer than twenty-four (24) hours without being […]

Section 14-1-26. – Separation from adult offenders.

§ 14-1-26. Separation from adult offenders. In case a delinquent or wayward child is taken into custody or detained before or after the filing of a petition, or pending a hearing on the petition, the child shall not be confined in any prison, jail, lockup, or reformatory, or be transported with, or compelled or permitted […]