2014 -- S 2101 SUBSTITUTE B

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LC003148/SUB B

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DNA DETECTION OF SEXUAL AND

VIOLENT OFFENDERS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Bates, Walaska, Hodgson, Sosnowski, and Ottiano

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 12-1.5-1, 12-1.5-2, 12-1.5-4, 12-1.5-7, 12-1.5-8, 12-1.5-13, and

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12-1.5-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-1.5 entitled "DNA Detection of Sexual and Violent

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Offenders" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-1.5-1. Policy. [Contingent amendment; see other version] -- The general assembly

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finds and declares that DNA databanks and DNA databases are important tools in criminal

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investigations, in the exclusion of individuals who are the subject of criminal investigations or

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prosecutions, and in deterring and detecting recidivism. Many states have enacted laws requiring

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persons arrested for, or convicted of, a crime of violence, or persons convicted of any felony,

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sexual and violent offenses to provide genetic samples for DNA profiling. Moreover, it is the

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policy of this state to assist federal, state, and local criminal justice and law enforcement agencies

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in the identification and detection of individuals in criminal investigations. It is therefore in the

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best interest of the state to establish a DNA databank and a DNA database containing DNA

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samples and DNA records of individuals arrested for any crime of violence as defined in § 12-

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1.5-2, or convicted of certain sexual and violent offenses, or convicted of any felony as defined in

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the general laws of Rhode Island, and missing persons.

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     12-1.5-1. Policy. [Contingent effective date; see note.] -- The general assembly finds

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and declares that DNA databanks and DNA databases are important tools in criminal

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investigations, in the exclusion of individuals who are the subject of criminal investigations or

 

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prosecutions, and in deterring and detecting recidivism. Many states have enacted laws requiring

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persons arrested for, or convicted of, a crime of violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2 sexual and

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violent offenses to provide genetic samples for DNA profiling. Moreover, it is the policy of this

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state to assist federal, state, and local criminal justice and law enforcement agencies in the

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identification and detection of individuals in criminal investigations. It is in the best interest of the

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state to establish a DNA databank and a DNA database containing DNA samples and DNA

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records of individuals arrested for any crime of violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2 or convicted of a

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crime of violence as defined in section §11-47-2, or convicted of any felony as defined in the

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general laws of Rhode Island, and missing persons.

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     12-1.5-2. Definitions. -- For the purposes of this chapter:

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      (1) "CODIS" is derived from combined DNA index system, the Federal Bureau of

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Investigation's national DNA identification index system that allows the storage and exchange of

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DNA records submitted by state and local forensic DNA laboratories;

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      (2) "DNA" means deooxyribonucleic acid, which is located in the cells of the body and

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provides an individual's personal genetic blueprint. DNA encodes genetic information that is the

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basis of human hereditary and forensic identification;

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      (3) "DNA record" means DNA identification information only, which is stored in the

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state DNA database or the combined DNA index system for the purpose of generating

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investigative leads or supporting statistical interpretation of DNA test results. The DNA record is

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the result obtained from the DNA typing tests. The DNA record is comprised of the

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characteristics of a DNA sample which that are of value only in establishing the identity of

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individuals. The DNA record, however, does not include the DNA sample, and the DNA record

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may never include the results of tests of any structural genes. The results of all DNA

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identification tests on an individual's DNA sample are also collectively referred to as the DNA

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profile of an individual;

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      (4) "DNA sample" means a blood or tissue sample provided by any person with respect

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to offenses covered by this chapter, or submitted to the department of health laboratory pursuant

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to this chapter for DNA analysis or storage, or both;

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      (5) "F.B.I." means the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

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      (6) "State DNA databank" means the repository of DNA samples collected under this

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chapter, which that is administered by the department of health; and

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      (7) "State DNA database" means the state-level DNA identification record system to

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support law enforcement which that is administered by the department of health and which that

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provides DNA records to the F.B.I. for storage and maintenance in CODIS. It is the collective

 

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capability to store and maintain DNA records related to forensic casework, the DNA records of

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those arrested for crimes of violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2 and/or convicted offenders required

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to provide a DNA sample under state law, and anonymous DNA records used for research,

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quality control, and other DNA analysis support systems.

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     (8) "Crimes of violence" include murder, manslaughter, first-degree arson, kidnapping

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with intent to extort, robbery, larceny from the person, first-degree sexual assault, second-degree

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sexual assault, first-and-second degree child molestation, assault with intent to murder, assault

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with intent to rob, assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual assault, burglary, and entering

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a dwelling house with intent to commit murder, robbery, sexual assault, or larceny.

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     12-1.5-4. State DNA database. -- There is established the state DNA database. It shall be

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administered by the department of health and provide DNA records for the F.B.I. for storage and

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maintenance by CODIS. The state DNA database shall have the capability provided by computer

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software and procedures administered by the department of health to store and maintain DNA

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records related to:

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      (1) Forensic casework, including the identification of missing persons;

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      (2) Individuals arrested for any crime of violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2 and convicted

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Convicted felony offenders required to provide a DNA sample under this chapter; and

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      (3) Anonymous DNA records used for research on identification technologies or quality

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control.

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     12-1.5-7. Scope and applicability. [Contingent amendment; see other version] -- For

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law enforcement purposes, this chapter is applicable to adult persons arrested for crimes of

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violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2 and/or convicted to a period of probation for any of the

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following offenses: sections 11-37-2, 11-37-4, 11-37-8, 11-37-8.1, 11-37-8.3, 11-23-1 and 11-23-

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3, and for of any felony as defined in the general laws of Rhode Island in this chapter.

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     12-1.5-7. Scope and applicability. [Contingent effective date; see note.] -- For law

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enforcement purposes, this chapter is applicable to adult persons arrested for any crime of

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violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2 and/or convicted of, or sentenced to a period of probation for

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any of the following offenses: sections 11-37-2, 11-37-4, 11-37-8, 11-37-8.1, 11-37-8.3, 11-23-1,

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and 11-23-3, for any crime of violence as defined in section 11-47-2 for offenses committed after

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July 1, 2001, and for any felony as defined in the general laws of Rhode Island for, any felony.

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     12-1.5-8. DNA sample required upon convictionDNA sample required upon arrest

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or conviction for any crime of violence. -- (a) Every person arrested for a crime of violence as

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defined in § 12-1.5-2, who pleads guilty or nolo contendere, or is convicted of an offense as listed

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in section 12-1.5-7 after June 29, 1998, any felony shall have a DNA sample taken for analysis as

 

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follows:

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      (1) Every person who is sentenced to a term of confinement to prison, for an offense as

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listed in section 12-1.5-7 any crime of violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2, or any felony shall not

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be released prior to the expiration of his or her maximum term of confinement unless and until a

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DNA sample has been taken;

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      (2) Every person convicted of an offense or sentenced to probation as listed in section

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12-1.5-7 any crime of violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2, or any felony, or who is sentenced

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thereon to any term of probation, or whose case is referred to a diversion program, or upon whose

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case sentencing is deferred shall have a DNA sample taken for analysis by the department of the

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health as a condition for of any sentence which disposition will not involve an intake into prison.

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     (b) Every person arrested for any crime of violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2 shall, at the

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time of booking, have a DNA sample taken for analysis and included in the Rhode Island DNA

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database and DNA databank respectively as required by this chapter and every such person shall

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be notified of his or her expungement rights under § 12-1.5-13 at or near the time the DNA

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sample is taken.

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     (1) The DNA sample shall be submitted by the arresting authority to the department of

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health. The department of health shall not test or place the sample in the statewide DNA database

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prior to arraignment unless one of the following conditions has been met:

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     (i) The arrestee appeared before any judicial officer for an arraignment and the judicial

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officer made a finding that there was probable cause for the arrest; or

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     (ii) The defendant was released and then failed to appear for the initial hearing, or

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escaped custody prior to appearing before a judicial officer.

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     (2) If all qualifying criminal charges are determined to be unsupported by probable cause:

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     (i) The DNA sample shall be immediately destroyed; and

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     (ii) Notice shall be sent by the prosecuting authority to the defendant and counsel of

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record for the defendant that the sample was destroyed.

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     (3) The arrestee requests or consents to having their DNA sample processed prior to

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arraignment for the sole purpose of having the sample checked against a sample that has been

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processed from the crime scene or the hospital, and is related to the charges against the person.

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     (4) A second DNA sample shall be taken if needed to obtain sufficient DNA for the

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statewide DNA database system or if ordered by the court for good cause shown.

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      (c)(b) All DNA samples taken pursuant to this section shall be taken in accordance with

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regulations promulgated by the department of health.

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     (d) The director of the department of health shall promulgate rules and regulations

 

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governing the periodic review of the DNA identification database to determine whether or not the

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database contains DNA profiles that should not be in the database, including the steps necessary

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to expunge any profiles that the department determines should not be in the database.

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     (e) The requirements of this chapter are mandatory. In the event that an arrestee’s DNA

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sample is not adequate for any reason, the arrestee shall provide another DNA sample for

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analysis.

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     (f) A sample does not need to be collected if the person has previously provided a sample

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sufficient for DNA testing pursuant to the provisions of this section.

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     12-1.5-13. Expungement. -- (a) A person whose DNA record or profile has been

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included in the databank pursuant to this act may request expungement, on the grounds that the

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conviction on which authority for including that person's DNA record or profile was based, has

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been reversed. The department of health shall purge all records and identifiable information in the

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database pertaining to the person and destroy all samples from the person upon receipt of a

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written request for expungement pursuant to this section and a certified copy of the final court

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order reversing the conviction. The department of health shall purge and destroy all records and

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identifiable information in its database and all DNA samples taken pursuant to this chapter from

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convicted persons upon official proof that the person has been deceased for a period of at least

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three (3) years. Official proof shall include, but not be limited to, a certified copy of a death

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certificate.

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     (b) If the offense for which a DNA sample has been taken pursuant to § 12-1.5-8(b) does

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not result in a charge through information or indictment; or leads to voluntary dismissal of the

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charge by the state, or dismissal by a court; or by a not guilty verdict after trial; or upon the

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vacating or the reversal of a conviction in which the state does not retry the defendant or appeal

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the decision; or loses such appeal upon hearing; or upon any plea or conviction of a lesser offense

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that would not give rise to the mandatory sampling of the individual's DNA; the record or profile

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shall be expunged from the state DNA identification database, regardless of any prior record for

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which DNA sampling would not have been authorized, except pursuant to subsection (e) herein.

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     (1) The prosecuting authority shall, within thirty (30) days of an event listed in this

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subsection, notify the department of health of such event for purposes of expunging the person's

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DNA record and any samples, analyses, or other documents relating to the DNA testing of such

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individual in connection with the investigation, arrest, and/or prosecution of the crime that

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resulted in the arrest of the person. The department shall, within thirty (30) days of receiving such

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notification, destroy and expunge the person's DNA record and any samples, analyses, or other

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documents relating to the DNA testing of such individual and shall notify the individual of such

 

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action.

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     (c) Upon receipt of a written request for expungement from the person whose DNA

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record or profile has been included in the database pursuant to this chapter and notification of the

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completion of a program of diversion or the completion of the term of a sentence of deferment, or

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of the granting of a pardon, the record or profile shall be expunged from the state DNA

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identification database, regardless of any prior record for which DNA sampling would not have

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been authorized, except pursuant to subsection (e) herein, and such individual may apply to the

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court for an order directing the expungement of their DNA record and any samples, analyses, or

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other documents relating to the DNA testing of such individual in connection with the

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investigation, arrest, and/or prosecution of the crime that resulted in the arrest of the person.

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     (d) A copy of the expungement motion shall be served on the attorney general and the

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arresting police department with ten (10) days' notice prior to hearing, and an order directing

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expungement shall be granted if the court finds any of the appropriate conditions of the prior

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subsection are satisfied.

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     (e) The department of health shall, by rule or regulation, prescribe procedures to ensure

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that the DNA record in the state DNA identification database, and any samples, analyses, or other

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documents relating to such record, whether in the possession of the division, or any law

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enforcement or police agency, or any forensic DNA laboratory, including any duplicates or

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copies thereof are destroyed, including any records from CODIS. The director of health shall also

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adopt, by rule and regulation, a procedure for the expungement in other appropriate

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circumstances of DNA records contained in the database.

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     (f) No expungement shall be granted where an individual has a prior conviction requiring

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a DNA sample, or a pending charge for which collection of a sample was authorized pursuant to

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the provisions of this chapter.

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     (g) The detention, arrest, or conviction of a person based upon a database match or

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database information is not invalidated if it is determined that the sample was obtained or placed

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in the database by mistake. Any identification, warrant, or probable cause to arrest based upon a

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database match is not invalidated due to a failure to expunge or a delay in expunging records.

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     (h) At the time of collection of the DNA sample upon arrest of any crime of violence as

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defined in § 12-1.5-2, the individual from whom a sample is collected shall be given written

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notice that the DNA record may be expunged and the DNA sample destroyed in accordance with

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this section. In addition, the department of health, the office of the attorney general, and the office

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of the public defender shall post on their websites the expungement provisions of this section.

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     12-1.5-17. Convicted persons -- Refusal to give DNA sampleBailed and convicted

 

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persons – Refusal to give DNA sample. -- Any person who is required to have a DNA sample

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taken after having been arrested and charged with any crime of violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2

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or convicted of any felony, who refuses to do so, and who knowingly, violently resists the taking

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of a DNA sample duly authorized by medical personnel, shall be in violation of the terms of his

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or her release, regardless of whether or not the term was a special condition of his or her bail,

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release on probation, parole, or home confinement, or other form of supervised release.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DNA DETECTION OF SEXUAL AND

VIOLENT OFFENDERS

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     This act would require the collection of DNA samples for any person arrested for a crime

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of violence as defined in this act or convicted of any felony. This act would expand the list of

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crimes for which a DNA sample is required. The samples would be included in the Rhode Island

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DNA database to be administered by the FBI’s national DNA identification index system, which

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allows for the storage and exchange of DNA records submitted by state and local forensic DNA

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laboratories for the identification and/or exclusion of individuals who are the subject of criminal

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investigations or prosecutions.

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     This act would take effect on July 1, 2015.

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