R.I. Gen. Laws § 40.1-2-25
The director may set apart for cultivation and other farming purposes any of the land under his or her control, whether or not the land is within the limits of any institution defined as provided in this chapter, and may place that land under the care and control of the officer in charge of the institution within the limits of which the land is situated or to which the land is adjacent, or the department may employ some experienced person to take charge of the cultivation of the whole or part of the land devoted to farming purposes and of the farm stock raised thereon, provided that careful account shall be kept of the product of the farming and each institution shall be credited, as near as may be, with the value of the farm product resulting from the labor of its inmates, and shall be charged with the value of all farm product used for the maintenance of the institution. All farm products shall be disposed of as directed by the director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals. The director may employ assistance and hire labor as he or she may deem necessary to enable him or her to carry out the provisions of this section and may fix the compensation thereof within the sum appropriated to be expended for that purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 40.1-2-25