Rhode Island § 12-27-3 § 12-27-3. Court examination — Order of notice.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 12-27-3 — § 12-27-3. Court examination — Order of notice.

Rhode Island § 12-27-3

Title 12Criminal Procedure

Ch. 12-27Adjudication of Obscene Publications

This text of Rhode Island § 12-27-3 (§ 12-27-3. Court examination — Order of notice.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-27-3 (2026).

Text

§ 12-27-3. Court examination — Order of notice.
Upon the filing of a petition pursuant to § 12-27-2, the court shall immediately examine the book, print, picture, film, motion picture
            film, magazine, pamphlet, ballad, printed paper, written material, photograph, figment,
            or other material alleged to be obscene. If an examination is not possible, the court
            may rely upon sworn allegations contained in the petition. If the court finds no probable
            cause to believe that the book, print, picture, film, motion picture film, magazine,
            pamphlet, ballad, printed paper, written material, photograph, figment, or other material
            is obscene, the court shall dismis

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§ 12-27-3. Court examination — Order of notice.

Upon the filing of a petition pursuant to § 12-27-2, the court shall immediately examine the book, print, picture, film, motion picture film, magazine, pamphlet, ballad, printed paper, written material, photograph, figment, or other material alleged to be obscene. If an examination is not possible, the court may rely upon sworn allegations contained in the petition. If the court finds no probable cause to believe that the book, print, picture, film, motion picture film, magazine, pamphlet, ballad, printed paper, written material, photograph, figment, or other material is obscene, the court shall dismiss the petition. If the court finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that the book, print, picture, film, motion picture film, magazine, pamphlet, ballad, printed paper, written material, photograph, figment, or other material is obscene, the court may issue an order of notice returnable in or within thirty (30) days, directed against the book, print, picture, film, motion picture film, magazine, pamphlet, ballad, printed paper, written material, photographs, figment, or other material by name or suitable identity, and addressed to all persons interested in the publication, sale, distribution, or exhibition of it. The petition shall then come on for a hearing to determine whether or not the book, print, picture, film, motion picture film, magazine, pamphlet, ballad, printed paper, written material, photograph, figment, or other material is obscene. Notice of the order shall be published once a week for two (2) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the county or city in which the proceeding is filed, and if their names and addresses are known a copy of the order shall be served by registered mail upon the author, publisher, exhibitor, and all other persons interested in the sale or commercial distribution of the book, print, picture, film, motion picture film, magazine, pamphlet, ballad, printed paper, written material, photograph, figment, or other material.