Rhode Island Arrest Law

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(b)(1) When a law enforcement officer responds to a domestic violence situation and has probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed, the officer shall exercise arrest powers pursuant to §§ 12-7-3 and 12-7-4; provided, that the officer shall arrest and take into custody the alleged perpetrator of the crime when the officer has probable cause to believe that any of the following acts has occurred: 

(i) A felonious assault; 

(ii) An assault that has resulted in bodily injury to the victim, whether or not the injury is observable by the responding officer; 

(iii) Physical action that was intended to cause another person reasonably to fear imminent serious bodily injury or death. “Bodily injury” means physical pain, illness, or an impairment of physical condition; or 

(iv) Violation of a protective order and the violator has previous knowledge of the order and the terms of it; 

(v) Violation of a no-contact order issued pursuant to § 12-29-4. 

(2) The decision to arrest and charge shall not: 

(i) Be dependent on the specific consent of the victim; 

(ii) Consider the relationship of the parties; or 

(iii) Be based solely on a request by the victim.