Rhode Island § 12-5-3 § 12-5-3. Issuance and contents.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 12-5-3 — § 12-5-3. Issuance and contents.

Rhode Island § 12-5-3

Title 12Criminal Procedure

Ch. 12-5Search Warrants

This text of Rhode Island § 12-5-3 (§ 12-5-3. Issuance and contents.) 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 § 12-5-3 (2026).

Text

§ 12-5-3. Issuance and contents.
(a) A warrant shall issue only upon complaint in writing, under oath of:
         
(1) A chief of police, deputy chief of police or other members of the police force of
            any city or town, or deputy sheriff of any county, member of the division of state
            police, full time conservation officer of the department of environmental management,
            or other person specifically authorized by law to bring complaints for violation of
            the law which it is his or her responsibility to enforce;
         
(2) Additionally, in the case of property stolen, embezzled, or obtained 

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§ 12-5-3. Issuance and contents.

(a) A warrant shall issue only upon complaint in writing, under oath of:

(1) A chief of police, deputy chief of police or other members of the police force of any city or town, or deputy sheriff of any county, member of the division of state police, full time conservation officer of the department of environmental management, or other person specifically authorized by law to bring complaints for violation of the law which it is his or her responsibility to enforce;

(2) Additionally, in the case of property stolen, embezzled, or obtained by fraud or false pretenses, any person who has a right to the possession of the property.

(3) Additionally, a sworn law enforcement member of any city or town where that member is serving on a statewide task force.

(b) Within fourteen (14) days of the issuance of any warrant under this chapter, whether or not executed, the warrant, accompanied by any supporting affidavits and an inventory of any property seized, shall be returned to the district court having jurisdiction over the place of the search or, in the event of a warrant that is not executed, the court from which it was issued. The returns shall be maintained by the district court according to the date of issuance. If not otherwise indicated, the return shall note whether the warrant was executed.

Legislative History

C.P.A. 1905, § 178; G.L. 1909, ch. 281, § 31; P.L. 1915, ch. 1258, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 331, § 31; G.L. 1938, ch. 501, § 31; G.L. 1956, § 12-5-1; G.L., § 12-5-3, as enacted by P.L. 1965, ch. 168, § 1; P.L. 1969, ch. 239, § 16; P.L. 1972, ch. 169, § 13; P.L. 1986, ch. 168, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 364, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 333, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 159, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 172, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 324, § 42.