Arizona Laws 13-4240. Postconviction deoxyribonucleic acid testing
A. At any time, a person who was convicted of and sentenced for a felony offense and who meets the requirements of this section may request the forensic deoxyribonucleic acid testing of any evidence that is in the possession or control of the court or the state, that is related to the investigation or prosecution that resulted in the judgment of conviction, and that may contain biological evidence.
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 13-4240
- Conduct: means an act or omission and its accompanying culpable mental state. See Arizona Laws 13-105
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Felony: means an offense for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in the custody of the state department of corrections is authorized by any law of this state. See Arizona Laws 13-105
- including: means not limited to and is not a term of exclusion. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Person: means a human being and, as the context requires, an enterprise, a public or private corporation, an unincorporated association, a partnership, a firm, a society, a government, a governmental authority or an individual or entity capable of holding a legal or beneficial interest in property. See Arizona Laws 13-105
- Possession: means a voluntary act if the defendant knowingly exercised dominion or control over property. See Arizona Laws 13-105
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
B. After notice to the prosecutor and an opportunity to respond, the court shall order deoxyribonucleic acid testing if the court finds that all of the following apply:
1. A reasonable probability exists that the petitioner would not have been prosecuted or convicted if exculpatory results had been obtained through deoxyribonucleic acid testing.
2. The evidence is still in existence and is in a condition that allows deoxyribonucleic acid testing to be conducted.
3. The evidence was not previously subjected to deoxyribonucleic acid testing or was not subjected to the testing that is now requested and that may resolve an issue not previously resolved by the previous testing.
C. After notice to the prosecutor and an opportunity to respond, the court may order deoxyribonucleic acid testing if the court finds that all of the following apply:
1. A reasonable probability exists that either:
(a) The petitioner’s verdict or sentence would have been more favorable if the results of deoxyribonucleic acid testing had been available at the trial leading to the judgment of conviction.
(b) Deoxyribonucleic acid testing will produce exculpatory evidence.
2. The evidence is still in existence and is in a condition that allows deoxyribonucleic acid testing to be conducted.
3. The evidence was not previously subjected to deoxyribonucleic acid testing or was not subjected to the testing that is now requested and that may resolve an issue not previously resolved by the previous testing.
D. If the court orders testing pursuant to subsection B, the court shall order the method and responsibility for payment, if necessary. If the court orders testing pursuant to subsection C, the court may require the petitioner to pay the costs of testing.
E. The court may appoint counsel for an indigent petitioner at any time during any proceedings under this section.
F. If the court orders testing pursuant to this section, the court shall select a laboratory that meets the standards of the deoxyribonucleic acid advisory board to conduct the testing.
G. If the prosecutor or defense counsel has previously subjected evidence to deoxyribonucleic acid testing, the court may order the prosecutor or defense counsel to provide all the parties and the court with access to the laboratory reports that were prepared in connection with the testing, including underlying data and laboratory notes. If the court orders deoxyribonucleic acid testing pursuant to this section, the court shall order the production of any laboratory reports that are prepared in connection with the testing and may order the production of any underlying data and laboratory notes.
H. If a petition is filed pursuant to this section, the court shall order the state to preserve during the pendency of the proceeding all evidence in the state’s possession or control that could be subjected to deoxyribonucleic acid testing. The state shall prepare an inventory of the evidence and shall submit a copy of the inventory to the defense and the court. If evidence is intentionally destroyed after the court orders its preservation, the court may impose appropriate sanctions, including criminal contempt, for a knowing violation.
I. The court may make any other orders that the court deems appropriate, including designating any of the following:
1. The type of deoxyribonucleic acid analysis to be used.
2. The procedures to be followed during the testing.
3. The preservation of some of the sample for replicating the testing.
4. Elimination samples from third parties.
J. If the results of the postconviction deoxyribonucleic acid testing are not favorable to the petitioner, the court shall dismiss the petition. The court may make further orders as it deems appropriate, including any of the following:
1. Notifying the board of executive clemency or a probation department.
2. Requesting that the petitioner’s sample be added to the federal combined DNA index system offender database.
3. Providing notification to the victim or family of the victim.
K. Notwithstanding any other provision of law that would bar a hearing as untimely, if the results of the postconviction deoxyribonucleic acid testing are favorable to the petitioner, the court shall order a hearing and make any further orders that are required pursuant to this article or the Arizona rules of criminal procedure.