Whenever a complaint shall be made in writing and under oath of the complainant, or of some one in his or her behalf, to a justice of the superior court, that any person has made unlawful and forcible entry into lands or tenements, and with a strong hand detains the lands or tenements, or that, having made lawful and peaceable entry, or peaceable entry, into lands or tenements, any person unlawfully and with force holds and detains them, the court shall make out a warrant under its hand and seal, directed to the sheriff of the county in which the lands or tenements lie, or to his or her deputy, commanding him or her in behalf of the state to cause to come before the superior court, at such time and place as the court shall appoint within the county, twelve (12) good and lawful men or women of the same county, which warrant shall be in the following form:
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.
SC.
(SEAL) To the sheriff of the county of .......... or .......... to his or her deputy, .......... Greeting:
Whereas complaint is made to me, the subscriber, by .......... of .......... that .......... of .......... upon the .......... day of .......... at ...... with force and arms and with a strong hand did unlawfully and forcibly enter into and upon a tract of land of him or her .......... in .......... aforesaid .......... containing .......... acres, bounded as follows, viz.: (or, into the messuage or tenement of him or her, .......... as the case may be, describing it) and him or her .......... with force and a strong hand as aforesaid did expel and unlawfully put out of possession of the same (or, as the case may be, that having made lawful and peaceable entry, or peaceable entry, such person unlawfully and with force holds and detains him or her .......... out of the same), you are hereby commanded in behalf of the state to cause to come before our superior court, upon the ...... day of .......... at ...... o'clock ( : ) in the ...... noon at .......... in the county of .......... twelve (12) good and lawful men or women of your county to be impaneled and sworn, to inquire into the forcible entry and detainer (or forcible detainer, as the case may be), as aforedescribed.
Given under my hand and seal the ...... day of .......... in the year ...... .
Justice of the superior court.
History of Section.
P.L. 1908, ch. 1533, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 340, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 391, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 591, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 34-19-1; P.L. 2021, ch. 77, § 15, effective June 23, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 78, § 15, effective June 23, 2021.