R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-6-1 (2026)

Judgments, decrees, and orders — Writs and process — Punishment of contempt

✓ current as of July 2026
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The supreme and superior courts shall have power to enter such judgments, decrees, and orders, and to frame and issue such citations, executions, and other writs and processes, as may be necessary or proper to carry into full effect all the powers and jurisdiction which are or shall be conferred upon them respectively by the constitution or by law. They shall have power to punish, by fine or imprisonment, or both, all contempts of their authority.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1972–2024 · leading case: State v. Price, 672 A.2d 893 (R.I. 1996).
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State v. Price, 672 A.2d 893 (R.I. 1996). · cites it 8× “) Rhode Island Contempt Statute: G.L.1956 § 8-6-1 The inherent power of our state’s courts to punish for contempt was expressly recognized by the General Assembly in 1798 by the enactment of “An Act to Establish a Supreme Judicial Court in This State.”
Price v. Wall, 31 A.3d 995 (R.I. 2011). · cites it 2× “7 The Family Court justice consequently denied Price’s motion to purge himself of civil contempt, and the state filed a complaint in the Family Court, charging Price with criminal contempt in accordance with G.L.1956 § 8-6-1. After a four-day jury trial, applicant was found…”
Bowen v. Bowen, 675 A.2d 412 (R.I. 1996). · cites it 3× “Once having undertaken to issue an income assignment order, the Family Court, pursuant to § 8-10-38, has been invested with the “like powers” of the Supreme and the Superior Courts as provided in G.L.1956 § 8-6-1. That statute permits the Family Court to frame and issue such…”
Town of Coventry v. Baird Props., LLC., 13 A.3d 614 (R.I. 2011). “General Laws 1956 § 8-6-1 grants the Superior Court “power to punish, by fine or imprisonment, or both, all contempts of [its] authority.”
Britt v. Britt, 383 A.2d 592 (R.I. 1978). “Sections 8-6-1, 8-10-38. Only in very limited circumstances may a contempt order be enforced by an injunction.”
In Re Dina N., 455 A.2d 318 (R.I. 1983). “1956 (1969 Reenactment) §§ 8-6-1 and 8-10-38. We have no intention, nor did the Legislature in enacting § 14-1-11, of eliminating the Family Court’s power to enforce its orders.”
In re Price, 645 A.2d 488 (R.I. 1994). · cites it 3× “The question is: Whether the Family Court has the power to initiate criminal contempt proceedings for a repeated refusal by the respondent to follow an order of the court? *489 This Court would point out that the General Laws of Rhode Island Section 8-6-1 provides: “Judgments,…”
Goldstein v. Goldstein, 286 A.2d 589 (R.I. 1972). “General Laws 1956 (1969 Reenactment) §§8-6-1, 8-10-38. It is within the power of that court to enter an order which adjudges respondent in contempt and requires the return of the minor child as a prerequisite to entry of the final divorce decree.”
Bianchini v. Bianchini, 416 A.2d 123 (R.I. 1980). · cites it 2× “— Like powers are hereby conferred upon the family court as are conferred upon the superior court by the provisions of § 8-6-1 * * General Laws 1956 (1969 Reenactment) § 8-6-1 reads as follows: “Judgments, decrees, and orders — Writs and process — Punishment of contempt.”
McCullough v. Hudspeth, 389 A.2d 1242 (R.I. 1978). “) §8-10-38 confers upon the Family Court the same powers that are conferred upon the Superior Court by §8-6-1, and the latter section provides in pertinent part: “The supreme and superior courts shall have power to enter such judgments, decrees and orders, and to frame and issue…”
In re N.D. (R.I. 2024). · cites it 3× “1996); see also G.L. 1956 § 8-6-1 (codifying the Superior Court’s power to punish those in contempt of its authority); G.”
In re N.B., 22-75 (April 15, 2024) (R.I. 2024). · cites it 3× “1996); see also G.L. 1956 § 8-6-1 (codifying the Superior Court’s power to punish contempt of its authority); G.”
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