Rhode Island General Laws Title 42. State Affairs and Government § 42-56-29. Receiving and orientation unit--Study of incoming prisoners

To establish security standards that will safeguard society and that will provide for the most efficient possible rehabilitation of individual prisoners, there shall be established within the department of corrections a receiving and orientation unit which shall receive all persons sentenced to the adult correctional institutions for a term of imprisonment of more than one year. Every person so sentenced shall be segregated for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days during which period the person shall be studied and evaluated to determine whether the person shall be a maximum, medium, or minimum security risk and to develop a program of rehabilitation, education, and medical and other care as shall be deemed necessary and appropriate to prepare the person to become a useful member of society. During the period, a medical assessment, and an assessment of rehabilitative needs shall be made of the person and the results, together with the nature of the offense for which the person has been committed, the previous criminal history, if any, the recommendations of the department of the attorney general and of the sentencing court, and the social history of the person shall be studied and evaluated in determining the degree of custodial care of the person, the rehabilitation program for the person, the medical or other care that may be necessary and the spiritual and religious guidance that shall be indicated by the preference of the person.