Rhode Island General Laws
R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-6-1 (2026)
Examination on complaint of commission of offense
✓ current as of July 2026
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Whenever any complaint shall be made to any judge of the district court, or to any justice of the peace authorized to issue warrants within a division of the district court, of the commission of any offense within the division, he or she shall examine the complainant under oath or affirmation and require the complainant’s statements to be reduced to writing and be subscribed and sworn to by the person or persons making them.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1961–2024 · leading case: State v. Berker, 391 A.2d 107 (R.I. 1978).
State v. Berker, 391 A.2d 107 (R.I. 1978). “1956 (1969 Reenactment) §12-6-1 which requires: “Whenever any complaint shall be made * * * to any justice of the peace * * * he shall examine the complainant under oath or affirmation and require their statements to be reduced to writing and be subscribed and sworn to by the…”
State v. Storms, 311 A.2d 567 (R.I. 1973). “1956 (1969 Reenactment) §§12-6-1, as amended by P.L. 1972, ch. 169, sec.”
State v. Santos, 498 A.2d 1024 (R.I. 1985). “Chapter 6 of title 12 of General Laws 1956 (1981 Eeenactment), entitled “Warrants for Arrest,” empowers “any judge of the district court, or * * * any justice of the peace authorized to issue warrants” to hear a complaint (§ 12-6-1) and mandates that the “judge or justice of the…”
State v. Diggins, 168 A.2d 469 (R.I. 1961). “1956, §12-6-1. In the second count he alleges that complainant filed said complaint in writing on information and belief; that complainant did not have actual knowledge of the facts complained of; that he made such complaint on the basis of hearsay evidence; and that a court…”
State v. Winsor, 204 A.2d 427 (R.I. 1964). “1956, §12-6-1, and the warrant was issued by William H.”
Burke v. Langlois, 244 A.2d 593 (R.I. 1968). “1956, §12-6-1. He furthermore contends that the attorney who represented him at the arraignment was negligent in failing to speak to him first and in failing to inspect the complaint and warrant.”
Brant v. McSoley, 260 A.2d 443 (R.I. 1970). “§12-6-1 to the then justice of the District Court of the Eighth Judicial District requesting him to issue a warrant under §12-6-4 for the arrest of the warden of the Adult Correctional Institutions on the grounds that the latter had deprived him of his civil rights under 18 U.”
State v. Victor Tavares (R.I. 2024). “Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure a criminal complaint must be filed by the Providence Police Department in the District Court (Rule 3 and RIGL 12-6-1). A warrant of arrest must be then issued based on the criminal complaint (Rule 4(b)[(]1)).”
State v. Drake, 298 A.2d 537 (R.I. 1973). “1956, § 12-6-1, 1 complained to the District Court of the Second Judicial District that defendant had violated the provisions of G.”
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