R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-9.1: Duty of police officials to furnish fingerprints.

It shall be the duty of the superintendent of the state police and the chiefs of police or town sergeants to furnish the bureau of criminal identification of the department of attorney general within ten (10) days of arrest, the fingerprints and physical description of all persons arrested and all persons who are wanted for serious crimes or who are fugitives from justice. This section is not intended to include violations of city or town ordinances or of persons arrested for minor offenses.