Rhode Island General Laws Title 21. Food and Drugs § 21-28.2-17. Care, custody, and supervision of narcotic addicts

(a) The department shall establish regulations and standards for custody, release, aftercare, and aftercare supervision of narcotic addicts who have been certified to its care and custody pursuant to any provision of this chapter.

(b) A person who has been certified to the care and custody of the department pursuant to any provision of this chapter who, while confined in any facility, escapes from the facility, or who either fails to report as required or who absconds from aftercare supervision shall be declared delinquent by the department as of the date of escape, failure to report, or abscondence.  The declaration of delinquency shall interrupt the period of the commitment as of the date of delinquency and the interruption shall continue until the return of the person to the facility from which he or she escaped or until his or her return to the authorized supervision of the department.

(c) The department shall have the power to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person declared delinquent by it.  A warrant issued pursuant to this subsection shall be directed to any police officer in the state for execution.  The warrant shall constitute sufficient authority to hold in temporary custody the person retaken pursuant to it until the time as the person can be returned to the department and no order of commitment shall be necessary for it.