Rhode Island General Laws Title 10. Courts and Civil Procedure--Procedure in Particular Actions § 10-9-3. Application for writ--Contents

(1) The person by whom and the place where the party is imprisoned or restrained, naming the prisoner and the person detaining him or her if their names are known, and describing them if they are not known.

(2) The cause or pretense of the imprisonment or restraint, according to the knowledge and belief of the person applying.  If the imprisonment or restraint is by virtue of any warrant or other process a copy thereof shall be annexed or it shall be made to appear that a copy thereof has been demanded and refused, or that for some sufficient reason a demand of a copy could not be made.  The facts set forth in the complaint shall be verified by the oath of the person making the application or by that of some other credible witness, which oath may be administered by the court or justice to whom the application is made, or by any justice of the peace or notary public.