| This article addresses how to obtain personal | | | | obtain his / her personal belongings when there is a no |
| belongings (property) such as clothes in Rhode Island | | | | contact order / restraining order in effect: |
| (RI) when there is a criminal no contact order / | | | | (1) The accused can contact the police department |
| Family Court restraining order or District Court | | | | where the victim resides and seek to make |
| Restraining Order in effect. When a person is | | | | arrangements to pick up personal belongings. The |
| arrested or a restraining order enters involving their | | | | police will often escort the person to the home. The |
| wife or girlfriend who they reside with, the accused | | | | downside of this arrangement is that the police often |
| often needs to obtain his or her clothes and personal | | | | are in a rush and enforce a time limit. |
| belongings. There are several proper ways for an | | | | (2) If the accused has a private attorney, the lawyer |
| accused to obtain his / her personal belongings when | | | | can contact the victims attorney who can contact the |
| there is a no contact order / restraining order in effect: | | | | victim to make arrangements. The accused's attorney |
| How does a person obtain his or her personal | | | | can also seek to contact the victim to make |
| belongings in Rhode Island (RI) when there is a criminal | | | | arrangements (if the victim has no lawyer). This can |
| no contact order / Family Court restraining order or | | | | have pitfalls because the victim may be hostile or the |
| District Court Restraining Order? | | | | victim may have no interest in negotiating. The |
| A person arrested for a criminal domestic violence | | | | accused can also call the victims lawyers to make |
| offense involving his wife or girlfriend, who he resides | | | | arrangements. |
| with, often needs to obtain his clothes and personal | | | | (3) The accused can attempt to arrange to get his |
| belongings despite the fact that there is a no contact | | | | belongings through a third party such as a friend or |
| order in effect. This also applies when there is a | | | | family member who knows the victim. The accused |
| restraining order in effect. | | | | must be careful not to violate the no contact order. |
| Please contact Rhode Island Divorce and Criminal Law | | | | (4) The accused can seek relief from the Family |
| Attorney David Slepkow 401-437-1100 | | | | Court or the District Court where the restraining orders |
| Personal belongings usually consists of personal | | | | were filed in an attempt to retrieve their belongings. |
| property such as clothes, sneakers, toiletries, uniforms, | | | | If there is a criminal no contact order the Criminal |
| personal effects, work clothes etc. | | | | Judge will not get involved in helping retrieve the |
| There are several proper ways for an accused to | | | | accuseds' personal property. |