§ 15:609 — Drawing or taking of DNA samples

Louisiana § 15:609

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 15: Criminal Procedure

Text

§609. Drawing or taking of DNA samples
A.(1) A person who is arrested for a felony or other specified offense, including an
attempt, conspiracy, criminal solicitation, or accessory after the fact of such offenses on or
after September 1, 1999, shall have a DNA sample drawn or taken at the same time he is
fingerprinted pursuant to the booking procedure. The DNA sample may be analyzed during
or immediately following the booking of the arrestee, or at any time thereafter.
(2) For purposes of this Chapter, a juvenile who is arrested for an offense covered
by this Chapter or adjudicated delinquent for the commission of a felony-grade delinquent
act, including an attempt, conspiracy, criminal solicitation, or accessory after the fact of a
felony-grade delinquent act shall be considered a person who is arrested for a felony or other
specified offense.
(3) When a peace officer elects to counsel and release a child pursuant to Children's
Code Article 814, the peace officer is not required to draw or take a DNA sample from the
child.
B.(1) Any person who is convicted or enters into a plea agreement resulting in a
conviction on or after September 1, 1999, for a felony or other specified offense, including
an attempt, conspiracy, criminal solicitation, or accessory after the fact for such offenses
committed prior to that date shall have a DNA sample drawn or taken as follows:
(a) A person who is sentenced to a term of confinement for an offense covered by
this Chapter shall have a DNA sample drawn or taken upon intake to a prison, jail, or any
other detention facility or institution. If the person is already confined at the time of
sentencing, the person shall have a DNA sample drawn or taken immediately after the
sentencing.
(b) A person who is convicted or enters into a plea agreement resulting in a
conviction for an offense covered by this Chapter shall have a DNA sample drawn or taken
as a condition of any sentence that will not involve an intake into a prison, jail, or any other
detention facility or institution.
(c) Under no circumstances shall a person who is convicted or enters into a plea
agreement resulting in a conviction for an offense covered by this Chapter be released in any
manner after such disposition unless and until a DNA sample has been withdrawn or taken.
(2) For purposes of this Chapter, a juvenile who is arrested for an offense covered
by this Chapter or adjudicated delinquent for the commission of a felony-grade delinquent
act, including an attempt, conspiracy, criminal solicitation, or accessory after fact for such
offenses shall be considered a person who is convicted for a felony or other specified offense.
C. A person who has been convicted or enters into a plea agreement resulting in a
conviction for a felony or other specified offense before September 1, 1999, including an
attempt, conspiracy, criminal solicitation, or accessory after the fact for such offenses and
who is still serving a term of confinement in connection therewith on that date shall not be
released in any manner prior to the expiration of his maximum term of confinement unless
and until a DNA sample has been withdrawn or taken.
D. All DNA samples taken pursuant to this Chapter shall be taken in accordance with
regulations promulgated by the state police.
E. As used in this Section, the term "released" means any release, parole, furlough,
work release, prerelease, or release in any other manner from a prison, jail, juvenile detention
facility, or any other place of confinement.
F.(1) Any person who is serving a term of confinement for the conviction of a felony
or other specified crime, including an attempt, conspiracy, criminal solicitation, or accessory
after the fact for such offenses and is accepted by the state from another state under any
interstate compact, or under any other reciprocal agreement with any county, state, or federal
agency, or any other provision of law to continue his confinement shall have a DNA sample
drawn or taken upon intake to a prison, jail, or any other detention facility or institution of
the state.
(2) Any person who has been convicted of a felony or other specified crime,
including an attempt, conspiracy, criminal solicitation, or accessory after the fact for such
offenses and has been accepted to the state from another state under a condition of active
supervision, shall have a DNA sample drawn or taken within three days after he has reported
to the office of probation and parole which will be providing active supervision.
G. A DNA sample shall be withdrawn from the body of any person who dies as a
result of being a victim of a crime of violence, as defined in R.S. 14:2(B).
H. The detention, arrest, or conviction of a person based upon a database match or
database information is not invalidated if it is determined that the sample was obtained or
placed in the database by mistake.
I. Duly authorized law enforcement and corrections personnel may employ
reasonable force in cases where an individual refuses to provide a DNA sample required
under this Section and no such employee shall be civilly or criminally liable for the use of
such reasonable force.
J. When a DNA sample is not drawn or taken pursuant to this Section, or when a
DNA sample is taken or drawn pursuant to this Section and is destroyed, tainted, or fails to
generate a full DNA profile during analysis, the court may order the person to produce a
DNA sample on an ex parte motion of any of the following:
(1) A law enforcement agency who investigated the person which resulted in the
arrest for a felony or other specified offense, as defined in R.S. 15:603(10), including an
attempt, conspiracy, criminal solicitation, or accessory after the fact of such offenses.
(2) The warden or the administrator of the booking facility or correctional facility
where the person was booked or incarcerated.
(3) The district attorney or attorney general assigned to prosecute the case for which
a DNA sample was authorized under this Section.

Legislative History

Acts 1997, No. 737, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; H.C.R. No. 40, 1999 R.S., eff. June 21, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 487, §1, eff. June 20, 2003; Acts 2009, No. 9, §1; Acts 2010, No. 213, §1; Acts 2019, No. 147, §2; Acts 2021, No. 99, §1, eff. June 4, 2021.