PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

[Legal Affairs]

(More later)

For now:

The State of Rhode Island requires licensing of this nature through the local towns or cities where the private investigator either resides or works. Out of state applicants may be able to obtain a PI license by mail. There is no state licensing.

The PI License generally requires a background check and is approved by the Chief of Police.

If anyone have phone numbers, addresses, and contacts for each city license, please post them in this topic to help others.

[Walter Hidalgo]

Are you telling me that in order for me to get a license as a private investigator, all I would have to do is get approval from the chief of police? Please reply at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

[Charlaine Nordin]

Rhode Island's Private Investigation Licensing is handled by each city.

The requirements are different for each city, and the applications are available at the city clerks office. Some require a psychological exam, some don’t. Most do require at least 5 years of experience working for a private Investigator or educational equivalent. A letter of experence, and surety bond of at least $5000.00 dollars or more. Four passport Photos are required as well. The registration fee of $150.00.

[Walter Hidalgo]

Ummm...I think i'll stick to what I have. I want to reiterate what you said about private investigators-as far as uniformity is concerned. If I do not "advertise" myself, I can still do private investigator work under you guys correct? The reason I ask is I am in the midst of starting my own consulting firm that includes paralegal work and ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) services. However, I would love to integrate PI services as well. Can I do that? Or, does that fall under conducting "promotion?" OR, alternatively, could I work with a local agency in the mean time to gain my 5 years experience? Cause I tell you right now, I DO NOT have a $5,000.00 surety bond.

[Charlaine Nordin]

Walter
You can get a surity bond for as little as $100 a month. It all depends on who you get it from. Follow this link http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9392 This will take you to another topic within the forum that talks about bonding. As for working under other Pi's you can work for others. Call the city hall's around the state because you can find some are more forgiving then others when it comes to the requirments.

[Walter Hidalgo]

hmmm....interesting. I guess I have a lot of due diligence to do on my own. Thank you so much for your help.

[Cynthia Ford]

What we need in this topic (since it was authored six years ago in 2001) are all of the local phone numbers, names, contacts, and PREFERABLY web addresses of where the cities have their statutes and applications details posted. A lot has changed in 6 years, and there is surely some good web links we can come up with to help others.

And yes, a bond is like getting an insurance policy. If you do not have $5000 cash or can save $200 a month for a couple of years, then shop around for a low premium. A $100 per month premium seems pretty high for a $5000 policy, though. Maybe that is based on concealed bodyguard work, etc. Try to trim down the risky portion of what you will be doing, and leave the gun in a closet.

If you want to know what you can "probably" do in Rhode Island without the need for a license, go to the other state topics we have that have a LOT of exemptions posted. All of the states pretty much agree that you do not need a license for about 10-12 areas of cases.

[Luiz Gonzaga]

On surety Bonds, Contact your Insurance Agent, I am a Constable in Massachusetts and I have a surety Bond. The Bond Cost me $100.00 for a year. I am up for renewal and the cost is the same.

[Charlaine Nordin]

This is the Rhode Island State Laws for Privat Ivvestigators. Rhode Island State Laws (http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE5/5-5/INDEX.HTM)

[Charlaine Nordin]

Hear are the city names and their phone numbers. You will need to ask the clerk for the information.


· Barrington
http://www.ci.barrington.ri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-247-1900
· Bristol
http://www.bristolri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-253-7000
· Burrillville
http://www.burrillville.org/| Town hall phone: 401-568-4300
· Central Falls
http://www.centralfallsri.us/ | City hall phone: 401-727-7400
· Charlestown
http://www.charlestownri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-364-1200
· Coventry
http://www.town.coventry.ri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-821-6400
· Cranston
http://www.cranstonri.com/ | City hall phone: 401-461-1000
· Cumberland
http://www.cumberlandri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-728-2400
· East Greenwich
http://www.eastgreenwichri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-886-8665
· East Providence
http://www.eastprovidenceri.net/ | City hall phone: 401-435-7500
· Exeter
http://www.town.exeter.ri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-295-7500
· Foster
http://www.muni.ri.net/foster/ | Town hall phone: 401-392-9200
· Glocester
http://www.glocesterri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-568-6206
· Hopkinton
http://hopkintonritownhall.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-377-7777
· Jamestown
http://www.jamestownri.net/| Town hall phone: 401-423-7220
· Johnston
http://www.johnston-ri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-351-6618
· Lincoln
http://www.lincolnri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-333-1100
· Little Compton
http://www.riedc.com/riedc/ri_databank/31/293/ | Town hall phone: 401-635-4400
· Middletown
http://www.middletownri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-849-5540
· Narragansett
http://www.narragansettri.com/townhall/index.htm | Town hall phone: 401-789-1044
· New Shoreham
http://www.town.new-shoreham.ri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-466-3200
· Newport
http://www.cityofnewport.com/| City hall phone: 401-846-9600
· North Kingstown
http://www.northkingstown.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-294-3331
· North Providence
http://www.northprovidenceri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-232-0900
· North Smithfield
http://www.northsmithfieldri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-767-2200
· Pawtucket
http://www.pawtucketri.com/| City hall phone: 401-728-0500
· Portsmouth
http://www.portsmouthri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-683-3255
· Providence
http://www.providenceri.com/| City hall phone: 401-421-7740
· Richmond
http://www.richmondri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-539-2497
· Scituate
http://www.scituateri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-647-2822
· Smithfield
http://www.smithfieldri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-233-1000
· South Kingstown
http://www.southkingstownri.com/| Town hall phone: 401-789-9331
· Tiverton
http://www.tiverton.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-625-6700
· Warren
http://www.townofwarren-ri.gov/| Town hall phone: 401-245-7340
· Warwick
http://www.warwickri.gov/ | City hall phone: 401-738-2000
· West Greenwich
http://www.wgtownri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-392-3800
· West Warwick
http://www.westwarwickri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-822-9200
· Westerly
http://www.townofwesterly.com/| Town hall phone: 401-348-2500
· Woonsocket
http://www.ci.woonsocket.ri.us/| City hall phone: 401-762-6400

[Cynthia Ford]

Outstanding! Thank you.