R.I. Gen. Laws § 14-1-17
The summons shall require the person upon whom it is served to appear before the court at a time and place stated in it for a hearing on the petition, the allegations of which shall be set forth in the summons, and the summons shall be served by reading it to, and leaving a copy with, the person to be served, or by leaving an attested copy at the last and usual place of abode of the person summoned, with some person living there. However, in the event that the justice has reason to believe that the child may not appear upon summons, or in the event that a child has been summoned and does not appear, the justice may issue a warrant reciting the substance of the petition and requiring the officer to whom it is directed to immediately take the child and bring it before the court to be dealt with according to the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 14-1-17