R.I. Dist. Ct. R. Crim. P. 4

(a) Issuance. If it appears from

the complaint, or from the statement or statements made and subscribed to before a

judge of the District Court or other officer empowered to issue warrants, that there

is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed and that the

defendant has committed it, a warrant for the arrest of the defendant shall issue to

any officers authorized by law to execute it. Upon request of the representative of

the State a summons instead of a warrant shall issue. More than one warrant or

summons may issue on the same complaint. If a defendant fails to appear in response

to the summons, a warrant shall issue.

(b) Form.

(1) Warrant. The warrant shall be signed by the judicial officer issuing it and

shall contain the name of the defendant or, if the defendant's name is unknown, any

name or description by which the defendant can be identified with reasonable

certainty. It shall describe the offense charged in the complaint. The judge or other

officer issuing a warrant may endorse upon it the amount of bail if the offense is

bailable by that judge or officer. It shall be directed to any officers or other persons

authorized by law to execute same and shall command that the defendant be arrested

and, unless otherwise provided by law, be brought before a judge of the District

Court for the division in which the crime was committed.

(2) Summons. The summons shall be in the same form as the warrant except that

it shall summon the defendant to appear at a stated time and place before a judge of

the District Court for the division in which the offense is alleged to have been

committed.

(c) Execution or Service; and Return.

(1) By Whom. The warrant shall be executed by any officer authorized by law.

The summons may be served by any person authorized to execute a warrant.

(2) Territorial Limits. The warrant may be executed or the summons may be

served at any place within the State of Rhode Island.

(3) Manner. The warrant shall be executed by the arrest of the defendant. The

officer need not have the warrant in the officer's possession at the time of the arrest,

but upon request the officer shall show the warrant to the defendant as soon as

possible. If the officer does not have the warrant in his or her possession at the time

of the arrest, the officer shall then inform the defendant of the offense charged and

that a warrant has been issued. The summons shall be served upon a defendant by

delivering a copy to the defendant personally, or by leaving it at the defendant's

dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and

discretion then residing therein or by mailing it to the defendant's last known address.

(4) Return. The officer executing a warrant shall make return thereof to the judge

before whom the defendant is brought pursuant to Rule 5. Upon execution of a

warrant, or service of a summons, or surrender by a defendant the attorney for the

State shall cause any copies of the warrant or summons, or any unexecuted warrant

or summons issued against the defendant for the same offense to be returned to the

judicial officer by whom it was issued to be cancelled by him or her. On or before

the return day the person to whom a summons was delivered for service shall make

return thereof to the judicial officer before whom the summons is returnable. At the

request of the attorney for the State made at any time while the complaint is pending,

a warrant returned unexecuted and not cancelled or a summons returned unserved or

a duplicate thereof may be delivered by the judicial officer who issued same to any

authorized person for execution or service.