2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 1 - OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS › TITLE 9 - OF CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON INVOLVING SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC DECENCY AND GOOD MORALS › CHAPTER 6 - DNA and Forensic Identification Data Base and Data Bank Act of 1998 › ARTICLE 3 - Data Base Applications › Section 297.

297. (a) Subject to the limitations in paragraph (3) of this subdivision, only the following laboratories are authorized to analyze crime scene samples and other forensic identification samples of known and unknown origin and to upload and compare those profiles against available state and national DNA and forensic identification databanks and databases in order to establish identity and origin of samples for forensic identification purposes pursuant to this chapter:
(1) The DNA laboratories of the Department of Justice that meet state and federal requirements, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Quality Assurance Standards, and that are accredited by an organization approved by the National DNA Index System (NDIS) Procedures Board.
(2) Public law enforcement crime laboratories designated by the Department of Justice that meet state and federal requirements, including the FBI Quality Assurance Standards, and that are accredited by an organization approved by the NDIS Procedures Board.
(3) Only the laboratories of the Department of Justice that meet the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) are authorized to upload DNA profiles from arrestees and other qualifying offender samples collected pursuant to this section, Section 296, and Section 296.2.
(b) The laboratories of the Department of Justice and public law enforcement crime laboratories that meet the requirements of subdivision (a) may, subject to the laboratory’s discretion, and the limitations of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), upload to available state and national DNA and forensic identification databanks and databases qualifying DNA profiles from forensic identification samples of known and unknown origin that are generated by private forensic laboratories that meet state and federal requirements, including the FBI Quality Assurance Standards, and that are accredited by an organization approved by the NDIS Procedures Board. Prior to uploading DNA profiles generated by a private laboratory, the public laboratory shall conduct the quality assessment and review required by the FBI Quality Assurance Standards.
(c) (1) A biological sample obtained from a suspect in a criminal investigation for the commission of any crime may be analyzed for forensic identification profiles, including DNA profiles, by the DNA Laboratory of the Department of Justice or any law enforcement crime laboratory or private forensic laboratory that meets all of the FBI Quality Assurance Standards and accreditation requirements in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) and then compared by the Department of Justice in and between as many cases and investigations as necessary, and searched against the forensic identification profiles, including DNA profiles, stored in the files of the Department of Justice DNA databank or database or any available databanks or databases as part of the Department of Justice DNA Database and databank Program.
(2) The law enforcement investigating agency submitting a specimen, sample, or print impression to the DNA Laboratory of the Department of Justice or law enforcement crime laboratory pursuant to this section shall inform the Department of Justice DNA Laboratory within two years whether the person remains a suspect in a criminal investigation. Upon written notification from a law enforcement agency that a person is no longer a suspect in a criminal investigation, the Department of Justice DNA Laboratory shall remove the suspect sample from its databank files and databases. However, any identification, warrant, arrest, or prosecution based upon a databank or database match shall not be invalidated or dismissed due to a failure to purge or delay in purging records.
(d) All laboratories, including the Department of Justice DNA laboratories, contributing DNA profiles for inclusion in California’s DNA databank shall meet state and federal requirements, including the FBI Quality Assurance Standards and accreditation requirements, and shall be accredited by an organization approved by the National DNA Index System (NDIS) Procedures Board. Additionally, each laboratory shall submit to the Department of Justice for review the annual report required by the submitting laboratory’s accrediting organization that documents the laboratory’s adherence to FBI Quality Assurance Standards and the standards of the accrediting organization. The requirements of this subdivision do not preclude DNA profiles developed in California from being searched in the NDIS.
(e) Nothing in this section precludes local law enforcement DNA laboratories from maintaining local forensic databases and databanks or performing forensic identification analyses, including DNA profiling, independently from the Department of Justice DNA laboratories and Forensic Identification Data Base and databank Program.
(f) The limitation on the types of offenses set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 296 as subject to the collection and testing procedures of this chapter is for the purpose of facilitating the administration of this chapter by the Department of Justice, and shall not be considered cause for dismissing an investigation or prosecution or reversing a verdict or disposition.
(g) The detention, arrest, wardship, adjudication, or conviction of a person based upon a databank match or database information is not invalidated if it is determined that the specimens, samples, or print impressions were obtained or placed or retained in a databank or database by mistake.
(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 170, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2007. Note: This section was amended on Nov. 2, 2004, by initiative Prop. 69.)