RI Arrest Records Guide – Search Rhode Island Arrests & Jail Roster
Rhode Island · Local police arrests, Judiciary cases, BCI history and ACI custody
Find a Rhode Island Arrest and Verify the Charge, Bail and Court Outcome
Rhode Island has no separate county jail searches. Local police create arrest records, the Judiciary maintains criminal cases and RIDOC operates the statewide Adult Correctional Institutions. This guide explains inmate searches, police reports, court dockets, warrants, bail, visits, mail, calls, deposits, BCI checks, public defense, victim services and expungement.
RHODE ISLAND RECORD ROUTER
VERIFYING
RIDOC CUSTODY
SEARCH
ACI
BCI
COURT
RI JUDICIARY DOCKET
OUTCOME FOUND
IDENTITY + DISPOSITION VERIFIED
Arrest is not conviction. A police or RIDOC record shows an arrest or custody event. It does not prove that prosecutors filed the same charge or that a court found the person guilty.
Local arrest reportRequest it from the police agency that created it.
State custodySearch the unified RIDOC incarceration system.
Court outcomeUse the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal.
State BCI check$5 for a Rhode Island name-and-birth-date check.
Official reviewProcedures checked July 24, 2026.
Which record answers the question?
LOCAL POLICE OR STATE POLICE
What happened during the arrest?Incident report, arrest report, probable-cause facts, evidence references and supplements.
Request from the agency that created the report.
RIDOC / ACI
Is the person incarcerated?Inmate ID, facility, charges, bail information and custody details available through RIDOC.
Rhode Island has no separate county jails.
RHODE ISLAND JUDICIARY
What happened in court?Parties, charges, case events, filings, bail activity, dismissal, plea, judgment and sentence.
The docket is the best source for the final outcome.
ATTORNEY GENERAL BCI
What appears on a state check?Pending prosecutions and fingerprint-supported convictions or equivalent dispositions.
Dismissals and acquittals are generally excluded.
Best sequence: Identify the arresting police department, search RIDOC if the person entered ACI custody, save the inmate and case identifiers and verify every charge through the Judiciary docket.
Rhode Island does not use county jail searches
Do not search for “Providence County Jail” or another county jail. Local police departments make arrests, but RIDOC operates the unified Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston.
Police custodyA person may initially remain at the arresting police department for booking, bail-commissioner review or transfer.
RIDOC commitmentPeople held pretrial or serving Rhode Island sentences can be committed to the ACI system.
Judiciary caseThe District and Superior Courts maintain the criminal case and legal disposition.
Rhode Island criminal court routing
District Court
- Handles misdemeanor arraignments and trials.
- Misdemeanors may carry up to one year of incarceration.
- Most felony cases begin with arraignment and bail proceedings here.
- There are no jury trials in District Court.
Superior Court
- Has original jurisdiction over felony proceedings.
- Conducts jury and non-jury felony trials.
- Receives felony cases after District Court proceedings.
- Also handles misdemeanor appeals through a new trial.
How to find a Rhode Island ACI inmate
Open the official RIDOC search
Use the state Department of Corrections site rather than a commercial inmate-search page.
Open RIDOC Incarceration Search
Read the disclaimer
RIDOC states that the online result is informational and is not an official certified record.
Select I Agree
The search form appears only after the disclaimer is accepted.
Start with the last name
Add the first name or inmate ID only when the result is too broad.
Try alternate spellings
Test former names, hyphenated names and suffix variations.
Open every plausible result
Do not rely on name similarity alone.
Verify the inmate ID and location
Save both before mailing, visiting or depositing money.
Record every charge and bail entry
One charge can be releasable while another charge or hold prevents release.
Use the automated telephone service when helpful
Call 401-414-2871 for inmate-specific and facility information.
Search the Judiciary docket
RIDOC custody information does not replace the official court case.
RIDOC states that employees will not confirm the case content displayed by the online search. Use Records and Identification or the court when formal proof is required.
Find the police department that created the arrest report
Providence area
Providence, Cranston, Pawtucket, Central Falls, East Providence, Johnston and North Providence
Kent area
Warwick, West Warwick, Coventry, East Greenwich and West Greenwich
Washington area
South Kingstown, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Westerly, Charlestown, Richmond, Exeter and Hopkinton
Newport area
Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton and Jamestown
State agency
Rhode Island State Police, Capitol Police, Environmental Police or another statewide agency
Identify where the arrest occurred
The person’s home address does not determine which department owns the report.
Read the RIDOC or court agency entry
Look for the police department, barracks or state agency.
Use the State Police department directory
The official Rhode Island State Police page links to local police departments.
Find a Rhode Island police department
Open that agency’s records or APRA page
Do not submit a municipal police report request to RIDOC or BCI.
Understand the Rhode Island incarceration result
| Field | What it identifies | What it does not prove | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inmate ID | The person in the RIDOC system. | The final court disposition. | Use it for mail, deposits and facility questions. |
| Current facility | The displayed RIDOC housing location. | The inmate will remain there. | Recheck before visiting or mailing. |
| Charge | A criminal allegation associated with custody. | The final filed or convicted offense. | Read the Judiciary docket. |
| Bond or bail | A release amount or condition connected to a matter. | Payment clears all charges or holds. | Call RIDOC Bail Information. |
| Commitment status | Whether custody is pretrial, sentenced or otherwise classified. | The complete sentence or case history. | Check the judgment and sentence. |
| Release date | A displayed or projected custody date. | The case was dismissed or supervision ended. | Verify court and parole information. |
| Photograph | An image associated with incarceration processing. | Guilt or identity by itself. | Match inmate ID and birth details. |
Verify the correct person before using the record
Full legal name matches
Middle name, suffix or alias is consistent
Date of birth or age matches
Inmate ID matches another official record
Arrest date matches the known event
Arresting agency matches the location
Court case follows the same arrest
Physical descriptors are reasonably consistent
Minimum identity rule: Match at least two independent identifiers before sending money, publishing an allegation or treating a result as belonging to a particular person.
Why a Rhode Island arrest may not appear in RIDOC search
The person remains at the police station
A local bail-commissioner or transfer process may occur before RIDOC commitment.
Intake is still underway
Identification, medical screening, classification and data entry can delay publication.
The name is recorded differently
Try the surname alone, former name, suffix or alternate spelling.
The person was released quickly
A person released from police custody may never enter RIDOC custody.
The person is held elsewhere
Check another state, federal custody or a hospital-related legal process.
The record is restricted
Juvenile, sealed, expunged or confidential information may be unavailable.
Custody-location call script
I am trying to confirm the custody location of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. Can you confirm whether the person remains in police custody, was committed to RIDOC, was released or was transferred?
RIDOC automated information
401-414-2871
Available 24 hours a day for inmate location, ID, charges, bail, visiting times and general facility information.
What happens after a Rhode Island arrest?
Police investigation
Local or state police create an incident report, arrest report, probable-cause information and evidence records.
Police booking
The agency records identity, fingerprints, photograph, charges and property.
Bail-commissioner review
When court is closed, an eligible defendant may receive a special arraignment at the police department.
District Court arraignment
Misdemeanors and most initial felony proceedings begin in District Court.
RIDOC commitment
A person not released may be committed to the Intake Service Center or another appropriate ACI facility.
Prosecutor review
The Attorney General prosecutes felonies and a significant number of misdemeanor cases; local solicitors or other prosecuting authorities may handle other matters.
Superior Court felony case
A felony can proceed to Superior Court for indictment, plea, motions and trial.
Final disposition
Each charge can end in dismissal, no information, acquittal, nolo plea, guilty finding, sentence or another order.
Correction or expungement
Incorrect information may be corrected, and an eligible case may later be sealed or expunged.
Request a Rhode Island arrest or incident report
Identify the agency that created the report
ACI custody does not mean RIDOC wrote the police report.
Name the exact documents
Request the incident report, arrest report, probable-cause narrative and identified supplements.
Provide narrow identifiers
Include the full name, date, location, report number, charge and court case number.
Request electronic delivery
This can reduce copying and mailing charges.
Set a cost limit
Require approval before search, retrieval or copying costs exceed a stated amount.
Use the department’s APRA process
Municipal agencies and State Police maintain separate request instructions.
Ask for the reason for each redaction
An agency can redact legally protected information while releasing the non-exempt portion.
Copy-ready Rhode Island APRA request
Under the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act, I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, probable-cause narrative and identified supplements concerning [full legal name], date of birth [if known], for the incident on or about [date and time] at [location]. Known identifiers include agency report number [number], RIDOC inmate ID [number] and court case number [number]. Please provide a written estimate before processing if the cost will exceed $[amount] and identify the legal basis for withheld or redacted material.
Rhode Island’s APRA generally allows 10 business days for a response, with a possible extension in qualifying circumstances. Common state APRA charges are 15 cents per copied page and $15 per search or retrieval hour after the first free hour.
Rhode Island State Police reports
Requests may be submitted to the Department of Public Safety Legal Office by email, fax, mail or in person.
Email: records@risp.gov
Fax: 401-444-1105
Address: 311 Danielson Pike, North Scituate, RI 02857
Request an official RIDOC custody record
Identify the exact RIDOC record
Examples include commitment, incarceration, facility, classification or release-related records that are publicly releasable.
Provide the inmate identifiers
Include full name, inmate ID, date of birth and relevant date range.
Do not request the police arrest report from RIDOC
Send the law-enforcement report request to the arresting agency.
Use the RIDOC APRA form
Completed requests may be emailed to RIDOC Legal.
Open the RIDOC public-record process
Request a cost estimate
RIDOC publishes 15 cents per copied page and $15 per retrieval hour after the first hour.
RIDOC Office of Legal Counsel
40 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: 401-462-2622
Email: doc.legal@doc.ri.gov
Find the filed charge and final court outcome
Remote public access normally shows the register of actions or docket sheet—parties, events, filings and case activity. The public does not automatically receive remote access to every electronic document.
Open the Judiciary case-information page
Use the official link to the Public Portal.
Open Rhode Island case information
Select the Public Portal for the public
Do not choose the attorney or government-agency access route.
Search by case number when available
A case number is safer than a common-name search.
Use the defendant’s full legal name
Add a court location, date or case type when the portal offers filters.
Confirm the correct court
Misdemeanors and initial felony events may appear in District Court; felony proceedings may continue in Superior Court.
Find the formal charge
Compare the court information with the police or RIDOC charge.
Read the docket chronologically
Check arraignment, bail, hearings, information or indictment, plea, trial and sentence.
Check every count separately
One offense may be dismissed while another remains pending or produces a conviction.
Review later sealing activity
A case that was once public may later be sealed or expunged.
Visit or contact the clerk for documents
Parties can obtain broader access at the appropriate clerk’s office, except for sealed material.
Common Rhode Island court outcomes
| Term | Practical meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | The case has not reached final disposition. | Newest docket entry and next hearing. |
| Dismissed | The identified charge ended without conviction. | Whether every charge was dismissed. |
| No information | The Attorney General declined to file a felony information. | Whether another charge or case remained. |
| No true bill | The grand jury did not indict the charge presented. | Whether other counts existed. |
| Nolo contendere | A no-contest plea accepted by the court. | Disposition, sentence and future legal effect. |
| Guilty filing | A Rhode Island disposition that may remain on a BCI until sealed or expunged. | Conditions and final court order. |
| Not guilty filing | A distinct Rhode Island filing disposition that can still appear on a BCI until sealed or expunged. | Exact docket language and eligibility for relief. |
| Deferred sentence | Sentence-related disposition with conditions and future consequences. | Completion, violation history and later sealing status. |
| Expunged or sealed | Ordinary public access is restricted by court order. | That BCI and the charging agency received the order. |
Obtain an official Rhode Island court disposition
Identify the court and case number
Determine whether the record belongs to District or Superior Court.
Find the current clerk’s office
Recent records generally remain at the court where the case occurred.
Contact the Judicial Records Center for older files
Call before visiting because a particular file may remain with the court.
Provide the required criminal-record details
Include defendant name, birth date, arrest date, arrest town, charge and telephone number.
Request the exact disposition
Ask for dismissal, plea, judgment, sentence or another named document.
Prepare the published records-center payment
The Judiciary publishes a $3 charge per offense for a criminal-record copy or disposition request through this process.
Include a return envelope for mail requests
Use a business or certified check or money order payable to the State of Rhode Island.
Judicial Records Center
5 Hill Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860
Phone: 401-721-2641
Check a possible Rhode Island warrant safely
Rhode Island does not provide one public statewide warrant list that should be treated as complete and current.
Identify the possible court and police agency
Use a citation, old booking, court notice or known case number.
Search the Judiciary docket
Look for warrant-issued, served, withdrawn or recalled activity.
Read the newest entry
An older warrant event may have been resolved later.
Confirm with the relevant clerk
Contact the District or Superior Court handling the case.
Confirm with the responsible police agency
Use an independently located official telephone number.
Use a lawyer when the warrant concerns you
Counsel can explain surrender, arraignment and bail options.
Never confront or attempt to detain another person. Similar names, recalled warrants and delayed data can cause dangerous mistakes.
Payment scam warning: Do not pay an unexpected warrant demand through gift cards, cryptocurrency, a text-message link or a payment application. Contact the court or police department independently.
Understand Rhode Island bail before posting money
Police-station arraignmentA bail commissioner may conduct a special arraignment when court is closed and release is legally appropriate.
District Court bailThe court handles misdemeanor bail and most initial felony bail proceedings.
Pretrial conditionsRelease may include supervision, treatment, testing, curfew, location restrictions or no-contact terms.
Continued detentionA no-bail matter, hold or unresolved court order may prevent release.
Verify the defendant and every case
Match the birth date, inmate ID and court case number.
List every charge and bail condition
One payment may not clear another case.
Identify every hold or detainer
Ask which court or agency controls it.
Confirm whether bail was set by a commissioner or court
Police-station commissioner fees are nonrefundable and are separate from the bail amount.
Bring accepted identification when posting at court
The Judiciary states that the person posting bail at court needs a driver’s license or Rhode Island identification card.
Ask where payment must be made
The correct location may be the court, police station or RIDOC.
Keep every receipt
Save the payer name, case number, amount and transaction proof.
Understand the refund rule
Available bail funds can be applied to restitution, fines, costs or assessments before the remaining balance is refunded.
Bail-verification call script
I am calling about [full legal name], date of birth [date], RIDOC inmate ID [number] and case number [number]. Please confirm every active charge, the current bail condition for each charge, every hold, the accepted payment method and whether further court approval is required.
RIDOC Bail Information
401-462-2261
Confirm the exact ACI facility before mailing or visiting
| Facility | Physical address and phone | Inmate mail address |
|---|---|---|
| Travisono Intake Service Center | 18 Slate Hill Road, Cranston, RI 02920 401-462-2285 | P.O. Box 8249, Cranston, RI 02920 |
| High Security Center | 54 Power Road, Cranston, RI 02920 401-462-2028 | P.O. Box 8200, Cranston, RI 02920 |
| Maximum Security | 1375 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920 401-462-2053 | P.O. Box 8273, Cranston, RI 02920 |
| John J. Moran Medium Security | 51 West Road, Cranston, RI 02920 401-462-3771 | P.O. Box 8274, Cranston, RI 02920 |
| Minimum Security | 16 Howard Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920 401-462-2162 | P.O. Box 8212, Cranston, RI 02920 |
| Gloria McDonald Women’s Facility | 20 Fleming Road, Cranston, RI 02920 401-462-0787 | P.O. Box 8312, Cranston, RI 02920 |
An inmate can move after intake or classification. Recheck RIDOC custody immediately before mailing, visiting or contacting a facility.
Get approved before visiting a Rhode Island inmate
Each facility warden sets the facility schedule, visit location, visit length, weekly visit limits and number of visitors. Do not assume that one ACI facility’s schedule applies to another.
Confirm the inmate’s current facility
Search RIDOC immediately before beginning the approval process.
Ask the inmate to add your name
Regular visitors must appear on the inmate’s approved visitor list.
Provide complete identity information
The visitor must pass BCI and NCIC background checks.
Wait for approval
Do not travel until the inmate or facility confirms that the visitor is approved.
Check the facility schedule
RIDOC publishes facility-specific schedules and can change them.
Open RIDOC visitation rules
Review criminal-history restrictions
Felony records, pending charges, specified misdemeanor drug records, nolo pleas and probation can affect approval.
Request special approval when applicable
Immediate family members with a disqualifying history may request approval through the warden or Assistant Director.
Bring valid identification
Follow the facility’s current entry and search requirements.
Recheck the schedule before traveling
Facility conditions can suspend, shorten or cancel visits.
Sentenced inmates may list nine people who can visit and deposit money. Two additional approved people may be added for money deposits only and may not visit. A visitor’s name can appear on only one inmate’s visiting list at a time.
Prepare for RIDOC screening and dress rules
Follow the current facility schedule
Bring accepted photo identification
Consent to required security screening
Wear clothing that complies with the visitor dress code
Do not bring tobacco or smoke inside ACI facilities
Bring no more than $10 in change in a clear plastic bag when permitted
Keep necessary medication controlled and declared
Do not pass food, drinks, money or property to the inmate
Refusing a pat-down, hand frisk or metal-detection screening can result in denial of the visit. Visiting privileges may be suspended or revoked for rule violations or security risks.
RIDOC facility pages currently state that taking visitor photographs is suspended until further notice. Check the latest facility notice before relying on a prior visitor photograph process.
Send mail to the correct RIDOC facility address
Verify the inmate’s name, ID and facility
Do not rely on an old letter or prior housing assignment.
Use the facility-specific P.O. box
The mailing addresses are listed in the ACI facilities section above.
Address the envelope completely
Include the inmate’s full legal name and RIDOC ID.
Use the United States Postal Service
RIDOC does not accept inmate mail or packages delivered through UPS, FedEx or another commercial carrier.
Use a white envelope
Incoming inmate correspondence must generally use a white envelope; attorney manila envelopes are an exception.
Check book and magazine rules
Confirm the current mail policy and vendor requirements before ordering.
Do not include prohibited property
Mail is inspected and can be rejected for contraband, security risks or non-compliant packaging.
Receive calls from a Rhode Island inmate
Inmates cannot receive ordinary incoming calls
Inmates may place collect or prepaid calls
AdvancePay can fund a receiving telephone account
Inmate debit can fund calls from the inmate account
Access depends on custody status and housing rules
Attorney privileged numbers require a separate approval process
Confirm the caller’s inmate ID and facility
Use RIDOC search or the automated information line.
Create a Securus account when needed
Use the provider identified by RIDOC.
Open the inmate telephone provider
Add the receiving telephone number
Fund the correct account type before expecting prepaid calls.
Do not forward or misuse calls
Provider security systems can block unauthorized call handling.
Do not discuss confidential legal strategy
Ordinary inmate calls are not privileged attorney communications.
Deposit money into a RIDOC inmate account
Electronic or telephone deposit
- Access Corrections online fee can begin at $2.95.
- Telephone deposit fee can begin at $3.95.
- Telephone: 866-345-1884.
- Cash walk-in service is also available through the approved network.
Mail or in-person deposit
- Mail a check, bank draft or money order payable to RI Department of Corrections.
- Write the inmate name and ID on the memo line.
- In-person deposits require photo identification.
- Published window hours are 9:00–11:00 a.m. and 1:00–3:00 p.m. on weekdays.
Verify the inmate and ID
Confirm that the person is still in RIDOC custody.
Confirm that the depositor is authorized
Depositors generally must appear on the inmate’s visiting list, except during the published 30-day grace period.
Choose an approved method
Use Access Corrections, telephone, cash walk-in, the Intake Center kiosk, mail or the Inmate Accounts window.
Review the provider fee
Electronic and telephone charges vary by transaction.
Use the correct mailed-payment format
Make the payment payable to Rhode Island Department of Corrections and write the inmate name and ID in the memo.
Keep the transaction receipt
Save the date, amount, inmate ID and confirmation number.
Mailing address for inmate-account deposits
Rhode Island Department of Corrections
Inmate Accounts Office
51 West Road, Building 138
Cranston, RI 02920
Inmate Accounts Unit
Phone: 401-462-2670
RIDOC will not disclose the inmate’s account balance or visitor list to family or friends because that information is private.
Report a medical concern about an incarcerated person
Have the inmate’s information ready
Provide the exact name, inmate ID and current facility.
Describe the specific concern
State the symptoms, medication concern or known condition without exaggeration.
Contact the RIDOC Patient Liaison
Call 401-462-1620.
Send written information when useful
Email doc.medical@doc.ri.gov.
Use the after-hours inmate information line
Call 401-414-2871 when an after-hours facility concern requires routing.
The health-care office cannot disclose protected medical details without proper authorization. Provide useful information and request that the concern be forwarded to medical staff.
Apply for representation through the Rhode Island Public Defender
The Rhode Island Public Defender represents eligible indigent defendants referred by the District, Superior, Supreme and Family Courts.
Ask for appointed counsel at arraignment
Clearly state that the defendant cannot afford a private attorney.
Complete the financial affidavit
Rhode Island law requires information about income, assets and necessary living expenses.
Provide supporting documents when requested
The Public Defender may investigate eligibility or request additional financial information.
Attend the courthouse intake interview
Intake hours vary by courthouse.
Open Public Defender contacts and intake hours
Provide the case number and court
Have the next hearing date and RIDOC inmate ID available.
Do not discuss facts on ordinary inmate calls
Use the attorney-approved privileged communication process.
Rhode Island Public Defender
160 Pine Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-222-3492
Email: Information@ripd.org
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Get case information, advocacy and financial help
Contact the police victim advocate
Ask the investigating agency whether it has a local advocate or referral.
Contact Attorney General Victim Services for a felony case
Call 401-274-4400 and select prompt 7.
Have the police report and case numbers ready
These help staff locate the case and offender.
Register with VOICE when invited
The portal provides case events, offender data, restitution information and email alerts.
Open Rhode Island Victim Services
Apply for victim compensation when eligible
Rhode Island can reimburse up to $25,000 for qualifying violent-crime expenses.
Apply for RI Crime Victim Compensation
Meet the normal reporting deadlines
The compensation program generally requires a police report within 15 days and a claim within three years, subject to applicable exceptions.
Rhode Island Crime Victim Compensation
50 Service Avenue, Second Floor
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: 401-462-7655
Fax: 401-462-7694
Rhode Island Victims of Crime Helpline
800-494-8100
Free and confidential statewide support.
Obtain a Rhode Island state criminal-history check
A state BCI is not a complete list of every arrest. It generally shows fingerprint-supported pending prosecutions and convictions or equivalent dispositions within Rhode Island.
Included on a state BCI
- Pending Rhode Island prosecutions
- Guilty and nolo pleas
- Guilty verdicts
- Guilty filings
- Not-guilty filings until sealed or expunged
- Deferred sentences until sealed or expunged
Generally excluded
- Dismissed charges
- Acquittals
- No true bills
- No-information decisions
- Federal or out-of-state arrests
- Sealed or expunged records
In-person state BCI
Bring accepted photo identification
Use a valid state driver’s license, state identification card or United States passport.
Visit the Attorney General Customer Service Center
State checks are a walk-in service and do not require an appointment.
State the purpose of the check
Employment, housing, licensing and legal uses can require different handling.
Pay the current $5 fee
In-person payments use an accepted credit or debit card and may include processing fees.
Review the result immediately
Compare every listed case with the Judiciary docket.
State BCI by mail
Signed and notarized release form
Copy of accepted photo identification
$5 check or money order payable to BCI
Self-addressed stamped return envelope
Allow approximately 14 days for mail and processing
Use prepaid tracked overnight return when urgently needed
Mailing and walk-in location
Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General
4 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
BCI Customer Service Center
Phone: 401-274-4400
State BCI email: BCIstate@riag.ri.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
National fingerprint background check
An authorized national background check currently requires fingerprints and a $45 BCI fee. It can include federal and out-of-state information, but it is available only for legally authorized purposes. The Attorney General publishes an estimated seven-business-day mail-processing period after receiving a complete packet.
Correct inaccurate Rhode Island arrest or BCI information
Identify which system is wrong
Compare the arrest report, RIDOC information, Judiciary docket and BCI.
Save the incorrect result
Record the URL, date, inmate ID, report number, case number and disputed entry.
Obtain controlling proof
Use a certified dismissal, judgment, amended order or written agency correction.
Correct police data through the arresting agency
The police department may need to correct the original submission.
Correct court data through the clerk
The Judiciary must address an incorrect disposition or docket entry.
Contact BCI with the corrected proof
Explain exactly which arrest or disposition is wrong and attach the supporting record.
Recheck RIDOC and private reports
Updating one government system may not immediately update another database.
Correction and expungement are different. Correction fixes information that is factually wrong. Expungement or sealing restricts an accurate record that qualifies for legal relief.
Remove an eligible Rhode Island criminal record from public access
Eligibility is case-specific. A first-offender conviction, dismissed charge, acquittal or exonerated arrest can use different statutes and court procedures.
Acquitted or otherwise exonerated
Rhode Island law provides a procedure to destroy or seal fingerprints, photographs, identification records, BCI records and court records in qualifying cases.First-offender conviction
Qualifying misdemeanor or nonviolent felony convictions may be eligible after the required waiting period and satisfaction of legal conditions.
Obtain the complete court disposition
Identify every charge, outcome, sentence and completion date.
Check all previous convictions and probation events
Prior history can affect first-offender eligibility.
Select the correct motion
District Court and Superior Court use different expungement or sealing forms.
File in the court where the case occurred
Use the court that handled the charge or conviction.
Obtain the hearing date from the clerk
The clerk schedules the motion after filing.
Give the required notice
Provide at least 10 days’ notice to the Attorney General and charging police department.
Attend the hearing with supporting proof
Bring the disposition, completion records and any other required documents.
Pay or obtain waiver of financial obligations
Fines, fees, costs, restitution and assessments must be paid or waived before completion.
Collect three certified orders
The clerk prepares copies for the applicant, Attorney General BCI and charging police department.
Deliver the orders
The applicant is responsible for delivering the certified copies to BCI and the police department.
Verify public access changed
Recheck the Judiciary portal and BCI after the agencies process the order.
A sealed or expunged government record may not remove every independently published news report, screenshot or private archive. Keep certified orders for future correction requests.
Rhode Island arrest, custody, court and BCI contacts
Rhode Island DOC
40 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
Main: 401-462-1000
RIDOC Records and ID401-462-3900
Use for official custody-record questions.
RIDOC Bail Information401-462-2261
Confirm current bail and release routing.
Automated Inmate Information401-414-2871
Available 24 hours a day.
Attorney General BCI
4 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
401-274-4400
Rhode Island Public Defender
160 Pine Street
Providence, RI 02903
401-222-3492
District Court – Providence
1 Dorrance Plaza
Providence, RI 02903
401-458-5403
Superior Court – Providence
250 Benefit Street
Providence, RI 02903
401-222-3250
Map to RIDOC and the ACI complex
Map to the Rhode Island Attorney General BCI Center
Confirm before traveling: Verify current custody, correct facility, clerk location, office hours, identification requirements, payment method and whether an appointment is required.
What users can understand without opening multiple sites
Arrest and custody workflowLocal-agency routing, no-county-jail explanation, RIDOC search steps, inmate identifiers, ACI facilities, bail and missing-result troubleshooting.
Family and legal helpVisitor approval, criminal-history restrictions, facility schedules, mail addresses, calls, deposits, medical contacts, public defense and victim compensation.
Records and reliefJudiciary docket access, court dispositions, BCI scope and fees, corrections, APRA requests, expungement notice and certified-order delivery.
