(a)  In any case in which a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed or is committing a misdemeanor, he or she may issue a summons to the person substantially in the following form:

(Summons)

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

To …………………………..

You are hereby summoned to appear before a judge of the District Court for the ……………………. Division, located at ……………… in the (City)(Town) of ……………… , in the State of Rhode Island, on the ……. day of ……………… , 20 ….. at …….. o’clock …….. m., to answer to a complaint charging you with the crime of …….. in violation of [statute, ordinance, etc.]

If you fail to appear and answer, a warrant will issue for your arrest.

Dated at …….. the ……. day of …………… 20 …..

Title …………………..
Department ……………

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 12-7-11

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.

(b)  Willful failure to appear in answer to this summons may be punished by a fine of not over fifty dollars ($50.00) or imprisonment for not over fifteen (15) days.

History of Section.
G.L. 1938, ch. 625, § 68; P.L. 1941, ch. 982, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 12-7-11; P.L. 1972, ch. 169, § 16; P.L. 1977, ch. 66, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 77, § 12, effective June 23, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 78, § 12, effective June 23, 2021.