Rhode Island General Laws Title 45. Towns and Cities § 45-2-3.4. Background checks

(a) Any person seeking employment as a firefighter with any city or town in Rhode Island shall undergo a national and state criminal background check to be initiated prior to, or within one week of, employment after receiving a conditional offer of employment.

(b) The applicant shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification (BCI), department of attorney general, state police, or the local police department where he or she resides, for a national and state criminal records check. Fingerprinting shall be required. The applicant shall be responsible for the cost of conducting the national and state criminal records check.

(c) At the completion of the criminal background check required by this section, the attorney general, state police, or the local police department shall promptly destroy the fingerprint record of the applicant.