Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 92 - GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION › Chapter 92-4 - INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION OF EVIDENCE AND DOCUMENTATION › Rule 92-4-.03 - Access to Evidence

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) Evidence items will be provided for independent examination according to the following criteria:
(a) All examination/analysis of evidence of a physiological nature requiring in excess of one eight-hour workday and all blood alcohol determinations shall be conducted at an outside independent testing facility to be mutually agreed upon by the Division of Forensic Sciences and the requesting parties. This testing facility shall have an acknowledged capability and the expertise to perform the required examination/analysis.
(b) A portion of the remaining physiological sample equal to that originally tested by the Division of Forensic Sciences will be given to the independent examiner/testing facility upon court order/written request. If the remaining physiological sample is less than the portion originally tested, a mutually agreed upon amount will be provided directly to the independent testing facility.
(c) Independent examination of
all other evidence types
shall be conducted in the presence of and under the supervision of the Division of Forensic Sciences personnel (Supervising Officials and scientist/analyst who performed the analysis). No evidence nor any part thereof will be removed from the Division of Forensic Sciences by the independent examiner, the defendant, or the attorney for the defendant.
1. All examinations, tests and experiments will be conducted in the presence of and under the supervision of Division of Forensic Sciences personnel. This shall occur in the facility where the evidence is located unless there is mutual agreement between the Division of Forensic Sciences supervising official and the attorney for the defendant that testing of the evidence at another laboratory is in the best interests of all parties. In any case, the Division of Forensic Sciences shall maintain possession of all evidence throughout the entire course of examinations, tests, or experiments conducted on behalf of the defendant. The independent examiner shall have the capability and expertise to perform the examination/analysis without the aid or expertise of Division of Forensic Sciences personnel.
2. Any and all examinations, tests, and experiments shall be fully described to the Supervising Official prior to conducting such examinations, tests, and experiments. If a Supervising Official deems any proposed examination, test, or experiment to be destructive of the State's evidence, or to be destructive to the Division of Forensic Sciences' instrumentation or facilities, or to be hazardous to the health and safety of personnel, the Supervising Official will be or halt such examination, test, or experiment.
3. The independent examiner will be refused entry into the Division of Forensic Sciences Laboratory if he possesses, without the proper permits and authorizations, substances controlled by Federal and/or State laws.
4. No individual(s) other than the independent examiner(s) will be allowed in the Division of Forensic Sciences laboratory area during the examination/analysis period.
5. All instrumentation will be available for use if the independent examiner can show that he has a competent working knowledge of the instrument. Any equipment which will be used in re-analysis shall be identified to the Division of Forensic Sciences Supervising Official at least 72 hours in advance of arrival. Additionally, office supplies and non-controlled chemicals will be supplied by the Division of Forensic Sciences personnel unless the Supervising Official determines that the independent examiner can provide equipment or supplies which are substantially the same as those of the Division of Forensic Sciences. The Division of Forensic Sciences reserves the right to verify the composition of reagents (a substance or mixture of substances used for its chemical and/or biological properties) by the independent examiner in order to prevent damage to Division of Forensic Sciences instrumentation. The independent examiner shall supply any reagents or test kits utilized for Toxicology or DNA examinations.
6. The independent examiner shall sign an agreement to indemnify the GBI for any and all damages which may occur as a result of use of GBI equipment and hold harmless GBI from any and all liability arising from the use of such equipment.
7. Any special or unique equipment provided by the defendant's examiner will be acceptable if the experiment, examination, or testing protocol is acceptable under rule 92-3-2-.03(c)3. of these regulations.