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Rhode Island General Laws Title 40.1. Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals § 40.1-5-7.1. Emergency transportation by police

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) Any police officer may take an individual into protective custody and take or cause the person to be taken to an emergency room of any hospital, by way of emergency vehicle, if the officer has reason to believe that:

(1) The individual is in need of immediate care and treatment, and is one whose continued unsupervised presence in the community would create an imminent likelihood of serious harm by reason of psychiatric disability if allowed to be at liberty pending examination by a licensed physician;  or

(2) The individual is in need of immediate assistance due to psychiatric disability and requests the assistance.

(b) The officer making the determination to transport will document the reason for the decision in a police report and travel with the individual to the hospital to relay the reason for transport to the attending medical staff.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Rhode Island General Laws Title 40.1. Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals § 40.1-5-7.1. Emergency transportation by police - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ri/title-401-behavioral-healthcare-developmental-disabilities-and-hospitals/ri-gen-laws-sect-40-1-5-7-1/

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