R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-25: Application to pending proceedings.

The provisions of this chapter, of chapter 10 of this title, and of chapter 11 of title 12 shall not affect any suit brought, nor any offense committed, nor any penalty or forfeiture incurred before May 11, 1939, and no prosecution or indictment pending on that date shall be affected hereby, except that all proceedings in any such suit or prosecution and in any suit or prosecution thereafter commenced may be conformed to the provisions hereof.