R.I. Gen. Laws § 14-1-24: Care of girls detained.

Whenever a girl is detained, she may be placed in the care of a police matron, and in the case of a city or town, the police matron may be one of those required to be appointed under the provisions of chapter 5 of title 13; and the board of police commissioners of any city or town where that board exists may appoint a police matron for that purpose.