Rhode Island General Laws Title 40. Human Services § 40-11-13. Confidentiality of reports and records--Penalty for disclosure

(a) All records concerning reports of child abuse and neglect, including reports made to the department, shall be confidential except as specifically provided by this chapter or as specifically provided by § 42-72-8 or specifically authorized by the family court in furtherance of the purposes directly connected with this chapter.

(b) Any employee or agent of the department violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200) or shall be imprisoned for not more than six (6) months, or both.

(c) Nothing in this chapter shall limit the right of the attorney general to receive all records and reports of child abuse when the office is engaged in the investigation of or prosecution of criminal conduct by another relating to the child or other children within the same family unit.