R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.5-1
The general assembly finds and declares that DNA databanks and DNA databases are important tools in criminal investigations, in the exclusion of individuals who are the subject of criminal investigations or prosecutions, and in deterring and detecting recidivism. Many states have enacted laws requiring persons arrested for, or convicted of, a crime of violence, or persons convicted of any felony, to provide genetic samples for DNA profiling. Moreover, it is the policy of this state to assist federal, state, and local criminal justice and law enforcement agencies in the identification and detection of individuals in criminal investigations. It is therefore in the best interest of the state to establish a DNA databank and a DNA database containing DNA samples and DNA records of individuals arrested for any crime of violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2, or convicted of certain sexual and violent offenses, or convicted of any felony as defined in the general laws of Rhode Island, and missing persons.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.5-1