Rhode Island Arrest Records

When someone breaks state laws and statutes in Rhode Island, they may be arrested, and their freedom may be taken away temporarily or permanently. These arrests are typically made by state-affiliated law enforcement agencies like the police department or sheriff's office.

In Rhode Island, when an arrest occurs, the arresting law enforcement agency also creates documents known as arrest records that include the arrestee's personal information, including name, age, and physical description, as well as some other crucial information about the entire arrest procedure, including time, date, charges, and an account of the incident.

Rhode Island arrest records are essential for maintaining public safety, conducting criminal record checks, and assisting with legal proceedings. They include thorough details about a person's criminal past, which helps the judiciary, law enforcement, and employers make educated judgments about investigations, hiring, and court cases.

Rhode Island reported a total of 16,842 arrests in 2023, representing a variety of crime categories, according to the crime data published by state police. There were 1,243 arrests for violent crimes, such as robbery, rape, serious assault, and murder, a minor rise of 3% from the previous year. With 6,892 arrests, property offenses like auto theft, larceny, and burglary fell by 5%. 3,842 arrests for drug-related crimes represented a 2% decline. The number of DUI arrests increased by 4% to 1,751. 3,114 arrests for other non-criminal offenses showed a 1% decrease.

Are Arrest Records Public in Rhode Island?

Yes, in Rhode Island, arrest records are public documents that anyone can access upon request. Per the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act, all government law enforcement agencies are required to provide arrest logs and other arrest-related information upon request and through public channels, unless there is a specific statute or direct court order that prohibits the release of such records. The following general exemptions under state law APRA § 38-2-2 may limit the release of arrest records:

• Juvenile arrest records;
• Records pertaining to ongoing investigations may be excluded;
• Information that would violate the privacy of witnesses and victims who were part of the arrest may be concealed.
• Records disclosing proprietary methods, protocols, or tactics may be excluded;
• Information that might betray their identity is usually excluded.
• To preserve individual privacy, any psychiatric or medical information found in arrest records is often excluded;
• Information that has been erased by a court order is not available to the general public.

What is Included in Rhode Island Arrest Records?

Per Section 38-2-3.2 of the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act, arrest records typically incorporate the following details:

• The entire name—first, middle, and last—of the adult who was arrested.
• The arrestee's residential address, unless providing it would reveal the identity of a crime victim.
• The date of birth of the arrested adult.
• The charge or charges levelled against the arrestee.
• The date of the arrest.
• The time of the arrest.
• The gender of the arrestee.
• The race of the arrestee.
• The arresting officer's name, unless disclosing it would reveal the identity of an undercover agent.

Find Public Arrest Records in Rhode Island

There are a few ways that interested parties can locate arrest records in Rhode Island: in person, online, by mail, or over the phone. In general, the guidelines below can be followed to start the process of locating an arrest record in the state:

• Finding the organization that holds the records is the first step in locating an arrest record in Rhode Island. Inquirers may find out which law enforcement agency made the arrest or just contact the state police, as all arrest records in the state are either kept by the Rhode Island State Police or by local/city law enforcement agencies.
• Use the agency's public channels after determining which one offers the data. This may entail completing request forms with the necessary search parameters, which often include the name or case number of the person who was arrested. The request can then be sent via mail or in person. Interested parties may also conduct a search to obtain information on arrests using public online channels. The agency would then confirm the requested record's availability.
• It is important to remember that applicants may be asked to pay processing costs if they are necessary for processing the request. Please note that the costs and payment methods could change depending on the policies of the police department or any law enforcement organization that releases the material.
• A person may find Rhode Island arrest records by contacting the sheriff's offices in each of the state's five counties. The Rhode Island Division of Sheriffs, which collaborates with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC), oversees all county sheriff's offices in Rhode Island, one of the few states with a single penal system. This indicates that the RIDOC is in charge of all arrests and pre-trial inmates in the counties; hence, it has access to all online rosters that are in use. Note that the photos of the inmates on these rosters are not from mugshot databases, which are usually made when county sheriff's offices in other states take pictures of the inmates after they are booked.

Since not all records are available for public viewing, restricted or concealed records can only be viewed with a subpoena—a legal document issued by a court judge or magistrate directing the production of a specific document to its owner or the appearance of an individual in court. The record custodian receives the document when the court issues a subpoena, and complete compliance is required. The Rhode Island Statutes, Section 9-1.1-6, provides a comprehensive guidance that outlines the steps involved in obtaining and completing a subpoena.

How to Lookup Arrest Records Online in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, there are essentially two main methods for searching for arrest records online: using official resources or visiting independently owned websites. County or city local law enforcement agencies or state government agencies occasionally maintain online lists for official sources that offer a convenient means to determine whether someone is incarcerated; these resources are often provided to the general public without charge. For instance, the public can search the online inmate roster maintained by the Rhode Island Department of Corrections to find details about an arrest.

Meanwhile, the public with an interest in learning more about arrest records can access a number of independent websites. These websites are typically searchable using parameters like a person's first and last name and a relevant U.S. state. They can be found by entering relevant keywords into a major search engine. However, keep in mind that in order to guarantee the quality and completeness of documents, it is imperative to validate those obtained from non-government sources.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Rhode Island?

The length of time that arrest records must be kept on file in Rhode Island varies according to the kind of offense and certain legislative requirements. Adult criminal histories are often unerasable unless they are sealed. While felonies require a ten-year timeframe, misdemeanor arrests can be removed after five years from the date of sentence completion. After a year, persons may file a petition for the erasure of non-conviction records.

Once an individual reaches the age of 18, their juvenile records are normally sealed, assuming no more infractions occur. However, certain significant offenses may result in permanent records unless the court orders otherwise. Additional restrictions apply to police and governmental agencies, which frequently keep data longer for major crimes like violent or sexual assaults. The Rhode Island Judiciary and individual law enforcement organizations keep up-to-date specific guidelines for record preservation and expungement procedures.

Expunge an Arrest Record in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, when a record is sealed, it becomes unavailable to the public and can only be accessed by the record subject or a government agency pursuant to a court order.

Records of arrests that resulted in no conviction—that is, where the defendant was judged not guilty—are expungable in accordance with Rhode Island Laws § 12-1.3-2. Additionally, under certain circumstances, some felony and misdemeanor convictions may be erased. These circumstances include:

• Every first-time offender may file a motion in the court where the conviction occurred to have all of their records and convictions for felonies and misdemeanors expunged; however, no one convicted of a violent crime may have their records and convictions expunged; additionally, all unpaid court-imposed or court-related fees, fines, costs, assessments, charges, and/or other monetary obligations must be paid unless the court reduces or waives such amounts.
• In the court where the convictions occurred, anyone who has been found guilty of more than one misdemeanor but fewer than six (6) misdemeanors and has not been found guilty of a crime may file a motion to have any or all of those misdemeanors expunged.
• After serving their whole term, a person has five (5) years to file an application to have the records of a misdemeanor conviction expunged.
• After ten (10) years from the date of sentencing completion, an individual may file a motion to have records pertaining to a felony conviction expunged.

If the court accepts the motion, it will order the expungement of all conviction-related records, the removal of all indexes and other references to the conviction from public view, and the petitioner's payment of a one-hundred-dollar ($100) fee to the court. Any law enforcement agency and any other agency that the petitioner, the attorney general's office, or the court knows is in possession of the records will get a copy of the court's order. The conditions set forth by the court must be followed in order to comply with the order. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-3(c))

Anyone who has their record expunged is free from all consequences and limitations stemming from the offense for which they were found guilty; however, if they are found guilty of another crime, the expunged conviction could be taken into account when calculating the appropriate sentence. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-4.)

How Do I Find Recent Arrests in Rhode Island?

Interested parties can the following resources, to find recent arrest information in Rhode Island:

• A large number of municipal police departments and county sheriff departments have websites that list the most recent arrest records. For instance, the Rhode Island Department of Corrections website has an inmate search engine that yields information about recent arrests and incarcerated individuals. Additionally, the public can access the City of Providence Police Department's 60-day online arrest log on its official website.
• Another alternative is visiting local law enforcement offices and requesting information on recent arrests directly. Certain organizations might need a formal request or a small fee to obtain these documents.
• A variety of jurisdictions, including Rhode Island, provide arrest data to third-party websites. Frequently, these websites include searchable databases of recent arrests. Inquirers can view the arrest information by just selecting the state and city/county.

Are Rhode Island Arrest Records Free?

It is usually not possible to obtain arrest records in Rhode Island for free from the official websites of county or state sheriffs. The different law enforcement authorities that keep these records typically charge a fee or require a formal request to obtain them. However, on their sheriff's websites, some counties might provide free and unrestricted access to arrest logs or recent arrest reports; requests for full data often need to go through the Department of Corrections or the Rhode Island Judiciary.