No. Once the state files Rhode Island domestic assault charges, only the prosecutor can decide whether to drop or reduce them. The alleged victim cannot drop the case unilaterally, even if they request that the charges be dismissed or refuse to cooperate. This is a deliberate feature of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, designed to prevent coercion or pressure on alleged victims to recant. The prosecutor can subpoena the victim to testify even if they do not want to participate, and can proceed without victim cooperation based on police reports, body camera footage, and 911 audio.
