R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-10-21: Records of court.

The records of the family court shall be public records, except that records of hearings in matters set forth in § 14-1-5, together with stenographic notes and transcripts of those hearings, shall not be available for public inspection unless the court shall otherwise order. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the records of the family court in criminal matters involving adults shall be public records. The record of delinquent or wayward adjudications of juveniles, or protective orders issued against juveniles, may be accessed by law enforcement personnel to be used for law enforcement purposes only and shall remain otherwise confidential. The attorney general shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to facilitate the purposes of this section.