Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-29-4 (2026)

Restrictions upon and duties of court

✓ current as of July 2026

Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section RI-LEGwebserver.rilegislature.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

(a)(1) Because of the likelihood of repeated violence directed at those who have been victims of domestic violence in the past, when a person is charged with or arrested for a crime involving domestic violence, that person may not be released from custody on bail or personal recognizance before arraignment without first appearing before the court or bail commissioner. The court or bail commissioner authorizing release shall issue a no-contact order prohibiting the person charged or arrested from having contact with the victim.

(2) At the time of arraignment or bail hearing the court or bail commissioner shall determine whether a no-contact order shall be issued or extended.

(3) Willful violation of a court order issued under subdivision (1), (2), or as part of disposition of this subdivision of this subsection is a misdemeanor. Beginning July 1, 2025, said violation shall be prosecuted by an attorney appointed by the prosecuting authority who shall self-certify that they have successfully completed a specialized domestic violence prosecution training course and updated training every four (4) years thereafter, aligned with national best practices and eligible for continuing legal education credit(s) as approved by the Rhode Island Bar Association. The written order releasing the person charged or the written order issued at the time of disposition shall contain the court’s directive and shall bear the legend: “Violation of this order is a criminal offense under this section and will subject a violator to arrest”. A copy of the order shall be provided to the victim.

(4) Beginning July 1, 2025, said violation shall, at the initial appearance, be presented by a member of a law enforcement agency and/or prosecuted by an attorney appointed by the prosecuting authority all of whom shall be prosecuted by an attorney appointed by the prosecuting authority who shall self-certify that they have successfully completed a specialized domestic violence prosecution training course and updated training every four (4) years thereafter, aligned with national best practices and eligible for continuing legal education credit(s) as approved by the Rhode Island Bar Association. The written order releasing the person charged or the written order issued at the time of disposition shall contain the court’s directive and shall bear the legend: “Violation of this order is a criminal offense under this section and will subject a violator to arrest”. A copy of the order shall be provided to the victim.

(5) Whenever an order prohibiting contact is issued, modified, or terminated under subdivision (1), (2) or (3) of this subsection, the clerk of the court shall forward a copy of the order on or before the next judicial day to the appropriate law enforcement agency specified in the order.

(b) Because of the serious nature of domestic violence, the court in domestic violence actions:

(1) Shall not dismiss any charge or delay disposition because of concurrent dissolution of marriage or other civil proceedings;

(2) Shall not require proof that either party is seeking a dissolution of marriage prior to instigation of criminal proceedings;

(3) Shall identify by reasonable means on docket sheets those criminal actions arising from acts of domestic violence; and

(4) Shall make clear to the defendant and victim that the prosecution of the domestic violence action is determined by the prosecutor and not the victim.

(c) To facilitate compliance with the provisions of this section, the district court shall assure that the misdemeanor and felony complaint forms indicate whether the crime charged involves domestic violence and, if so, the relationship of the victim and defendant.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 12-10-12, the filing of any complaint for a crime involving domestic violence shall be conditioned upon the defendant keeping the peace and being of good behavior for a period of three (3) years. In the event a particular case involving domestic violence is filed on a plea of not guilty, guilty or nolo contendere pursuant to § 12-10-12, the court having jurisdiction shall retain the records of the case for a period of three (3) years from the date of the filing. These records shall not be expunged, sealed, or otherwise destroyed for a period of three (3) years from the date of filing. Furthermore, the destruction or sealing of records in the possession of the department of attorney general bureau of criminal identification, the superintendent of the state police, or the police departments of any city or town after a filing related to a crime involving domestic violence shall be governed by § 12-1-12.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 14 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1996–2025 · leading case: State v. Carter, 827 A.2d 636 (R.I. 2003).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

State v. Carter, 827 A.2d 636 (R.I. 2003). · cites it 12× “Specifically, Carter contended that his second conviction for violating a no-contact order was issued by a judge of the District Court pursuant to the provisions of § 12-29-4, and was not an enumerated offense pursuant to § 12-29-2.”

State v. John, 881 A.2d 920 (R.I. 2005). · cites it 3× “At that time she obtained a no-contact order against defendant (dated August 20, 2001) from the District Court pursuant to G.L.1956 § 12-29-4. A subsequent no-contact order was issued on September 23, 2001.”

State v. Ramos, 2013 NMSC 031 (N.M. 2013). · cites it 4× “§ 6114 (2006); R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. §12-29-4 (2001); S.C.”

State v. Tower, 984 A.2d 40 (R.I. 2009). · cites it 5× “Count 1 alleged that on October 29, 2006, defendant committed a felony when he violated a no-contact order issued in case number P2/98-3396A, after having been previously convicted of two domestic offenses in violation of G.L.1956 § 12-29-4. 2 Count 2 charged defendant with…”

State v. English, 21 A.3d 403 (R.I. 2011). · cites it 2× “In addition to the probation-violation notice filed in Superior Court, a criminal complaint was filed by the North Providence Police Department in the Sixth Division District Court on September 29, 2009, charging defendant with violation of a no-contact order under G.L.1956 §…”

State v. Donald Greenslit, 135 A.3d 1192 (R.I. 2016). “1956 § 11-32-1; and Count Four, the violation of a no-contact order, in violation of §§ 12-29-4 and 12-29-5. On appeal to this Court, the defendant contends that the trial justice erred in denying his motion for a new trial.”

State v. Conti, 672 A.2d 885 (R.I. 1996). · cites it 2× “How are you?” On the basis of McWilliams’s allegations, a criminal complaint was issued, charging Con-ti with three counts of violating G.L.1956 §§ 12-29-4 and 12-29-5. A probation-violation proceeding was thereafter commenced in the District Court on June 13, 1995.”

City of Warwick v. Adams, 772 A.2d 476 (R.I. 2001). · cites it 2× “G.L. § 12-29-4 AND WILL SUBJECT A VIOLATOR TO ARREST! 6.”

State v. Murray, 44 A.3d 139 (R.I. 2012). · cites it 3× “In February 2010, the defendant was charged by criminal information with a felony pursuant to G.L.1956 § 12-29-4 and § 12-29-5 of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act for violating a no-contact order.”

State v. Lopes, 884 A.2d 397 (R.I. 2005). “General Laws 1956 § 12-29-4(3) provides: “Willful violation of a court order ⅜ ⅜ ⅝ is a misdemeanor.”

State v. Ramos, 2013 NMSC 31 (N.M. 2013). · cites it 2× “§ 6114 (2006); R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. §12-29-4 (2001); S.C.”

State v. Michael Narcovich (R.I. 2021). · cites it 2× “Three counts arose from violations of a no-contact order, in violation of G.L. 1956 §§ 12-29-4 and 12-29-5. For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we vacate the judgment of conviction.”

Show all 14 citing cases →

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-29-4(3) — 1 case

State v. Lopes, 884 A.2d 397 (R.I. 2005). “General Laws 1956 § 12-29-4(3) provides: “Willful violation of a court order ⅜ ⅜ ⅝ is a misdemeanor.”

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-29-4(a)(3) — 6 cases

State v. Ramos, 2013 NMSC 031 (N.M. 2013). “§ 6114 (2006); R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. §12-29-4 (2001); S.C.”

State v. Carter, 827 A.2d 636 (R.I. 2003). “Specifically, Carter contended that his second conviction for violating a no-contact order was issued by a judge of the District Court pursuant to the provisions of § 12-29-4, and was not an enumerated offense pursuant to § 12-29-2.”

State v. Tower, 984 A.2d 40 (R.I. 2009). “Count 1 alleged that on October 29, 2006, defendant committed a felony when he violated a no-contact order issued in case number P2/98-3396A, after having been previously convicted of two domestic offenses in violation of G.L.1956 § 12-29-4. 2 Count 2 charged defendant with…”

State v. Murray, 44 A.3d 139 (R.I. 2012). “In February 2010, the defendant was charged by criminal information with a felony pursuant to G.L.1956 § 12-29-4 and § 12-29-5 of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act for violating a no-contact order.”

State v. Ramos, 2013 NMSC 31 (N.M. 2013). “§ 6114 (2006); R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. §12-29-4 (2001); S.C.”

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.