§ 21-P:71 — Evidence Shipping Pilot Program

I. The department of safety may develop an evidence shipping pilot program to alleviate long waiting periods for evidence to be safely delivered to the state forensic laboratory, where it can be properly stored pending analysis. A special emphasis shall be placed on supporting law enforcement in rural communities where resources are limited.
II. In this pilot program, all evidence collected by medical personnel in a sexual assault case occurring in the state of New Hampshire shall be transferred to the state forensic laboratory within 7 business days of collection. If a law enforcement agency cannot deliver the evidence in person to the state forensic laboratory, which shall be the preferred method of delivery, the agency may use a common carrier that provides readily accessible package tracking to send the evidence to the state forensic laboratory for delivery within 7 business days of collection. Law enforcement must have a good faith basis to believe that the common carrier will accomplish delivery in 7 business days prior to choosing the common carrier. When utilizing delivery by a common carrier, law enforcement shall deliver the packaged evidence in-hand to an agent of the carrier, and not by drop box or other drop off, and keep track of the package's routing and delivery by tracking number assigned by the carrier.
III. The department of safety shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A for the design, administration, and reporting requirements of the program.

Legislative History

2025, 236:2, eff. July 1, 2025.