Rhode Island Arrest Records: How to Find Arrest Records in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the smallest U.S state in land area, with a total area of just 1,214 miles. 

The state has a population of over 1 million citizens, making it the 45th most populous state in the U.S. Rhode Island began generating public records in 1775. 

These records include details obtained from the 67 counties of the state. 

Rhode Island criminal laws and constitution permit law enforcement agencies to arrest or detain persons suspected of committing illegal activities within the state. 

Anytime an arrest occurs, the arresting authority or officer is tasked with creating a record of the arrest. 

This is known as an ‘arrest record’, and is considered a document that is accessible to members of the public. 

Therefore, any member of the public can apply for an arrest record search from the legal custodian unless sealed by a court order or statute. 

Rhode Island arrest records play a crucial role in court proceedings and are included in the subject's Rhode Island criminal record. 

Details Included in a Rhode Island Arrest Record:

An arrest record is the official documentation of an arrest. Every police department documents a record after an arrest, and it includes the following details:

* The date and place of the arrest
* Mugshots 
* Bail information 
* Fingerprints
* Physical descriptions such as height, weight, race, hair color, scars, tattoos, birthmarks, etc.
* A chronological narration of the events leading to the arrest
* Criminal charges filed 
* Details of the police interrogation 
* Personal information, including name, age, phone number, * * social security number, aliases, address, etc. 
* Type of crime committed
* Court dates

How to Find Arrest Records in Rhode Island:

Persons looking for arrest records in Rhode Island can start by contacting the local sheriff's office or the police department responsible for the arrest. 

You can obtain an arrest record by submitting an application by mail or visiting the records department of the law enforcement agency within working hours. 

Rhode Island is an open-book state, but access to arrest records comes at a fee determined by the custodian. 

According to Section 38-2-4 of Rhode Island's Access to Public Records Act, the charge must not exceed $15 per page.

After submitting your application, the arrest record will be released within ten business days. 

However, the period can be extended to 20 days if there are valid grounds for an extension. 

Furthermore, the local and state police department offer arrest logs on their official website, and applicants can submit a request under Sec. 38-2-3-2 Gen. Laws of Rhode Island. 

The arrest records of the state's police can also be found on the press releases column of their official website. 

A third party can also obtain an arrest record through the state Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) at $5.

The third party must submit a photocopy of a valid ID alongside a third-party disclaimer form to the BCI. The form must be completed, signed, and notarized. 

If the applicant is an entity, the form must be attached to the firm's header. Valid IDs include:

Valid U.S passport
Valid state-issued driver's license
Valid state-issued ID card
The completed form and ID can be submitted by mail or in person. Below are some of the street and mailing addresses:

Mail address:

Attorney General Julius C. Michaelson Customer Service Center
4 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920

In-person:

Attorney General Julius C. Michaelson Customer Service Center
4 Howard Avenue (Corner of Pontiac Avenue and Howard Avenue)
Cranston, RI 02920

* Phone: (401) 274-4400

* Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Persons submitting by mail must include a money order or check and a self-addressed and stamped envelope. The standard processing time for mail requests is between six to seven days. 

An in-person request is usually processed almost immediately, and the proper payment techniques for in-person application are credit, check, and money order. 

In Rhode Island, juvenile arrest records are generally withheld from public access, except for records of juveniles tried as adults for serious crimes. 

Only the entities listed under Section 14-1-64 of Rhode State Gen. Laws can inspect and retrieve copies of juvenile records. Such entities can obtain juvenile arrest records at the following loaction:

Family Court,
1 Dorrance Plaza,
Providence, RI 02903 (401) 458-5272
Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Finally, Rhode Island arrest records can be obtained from the Rhode Island judiciary. 

The court system in Rhode Island is comprised of the Supreme Court, Superior Courts, District Courts, Family Courts, Worker's Compensation Courts, and Traffic Courts. 

Superior courts handle felonies, while District courts hear misdemeanors. Family courts hear juvenile criminal cases. 

Each of these courts keeps records of court cases, including arrest records. 

You can apply in person or by mail. You can also visit the Rhode Island Judiciary Adult Criminal records database to retrieve an arrest record. 

Conclusion 

Arrest records are a vital part of an offender's criminal history information. While they aren't proof of guilt or conviction, they can also come up during a regular background check by an employer or landlord.