(a)  A person whose DNA record or profile has been included in the databank pursuant to this act may request expungement on the grounds that the conviction on which authority for including that person’s DNA record or profile was based has been reversed. The department of health shall purge all records and identifiable information in the database pertaining to the person and destroy all samples from the person upon receipt of a written request for expungement pursuant to this section and a certified copy of the final court order reversing the conviction. The department of health shall purge and destroy all records and identifiable information in its database and all DNA samples taken pursuant to this chapter from convicted persons upon official proof that the person has been deceased for a period of at least three (3) years. Official proof shall include, but not be limited to, a certified copy of a death certificate.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 12-1.5-13

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
  • 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)  If the offense for which a DNA sample has been taken pursuant to § 12-1.5-8(b) does not result in a charge through information or indictment; or leads to voluntary dismissal of the charge by the state, or dismissal by a court; or by a not guilty verdict after trial; or upon the vacating or the reversal of a conviction in which the state does not retry the defendant or appeal the decision; or loses such appeal upon hearing; or upon any plea or conviction of a lesser offense that would not give rise to the mandatory sampling of the individual’s DNA; the record or profile shall be expunged from the state DNA identification database, regardless of any prior record for which DNA sampling would not have been authorized, except pursuant to subsection (e) herein.

(1)  The prosecuting authority shall, within thirty (30) days of an event listed in this subsection, notify the department of health of such event for purposes of expunging the person’s DNA record and any samples, analyses, or other documents relating to the DNA testing of such individual in connection with the investigation, arrest, and/or prosecution of the crime that resulted in the arrest of the person. The department shall, within thirty (30) days of receiving such notification, destroy and expunge the person’s DNA record and any samples, analyses, or other documents relating to the DNA testing of such individual and shall notify the individual of such action.

(c)  Upon receipt of a written request for expungement from the person whose DNA record or profile has been included in the database pursuant to this chapter and notification of the completion of a program of diversion or the completion of the term of a sentence of deferment, or of the granting of a pardon, the record or profile shall be expunged from the state DNA identification database, regardless of any prior record for which DNA sampling would not have been authorized, except pursuant to subsection (e) herein, and such individual may apply to the court for an order directing the expungement of their DNA record and any samples, analyses, or other documents relating to the DNA testing of such individual in connection with the investigation, arrest, and/or prosecution of the crime that resulted in the arrest of the person.

(d)  A copy of the expungement motion shall be served on the attorney general and the arresting police department with ten (10) days’ notice prior to hearing, and an order directing expungement shall be granted if the court finds any of the appropriate conditions of the prior subsection are satisfied.

(e)  The department of health shall, by rule or regulation, prescribe procedures to ensure that the DNA record in the state DNA identification database, and any samples, analyses, or other documents relating to such record, whether in the possession of the division, or any law enforcement or police agency, or any forensic DNA laboratory, including any duplicates or copies thereof are destroyed, including any records from CODIS. The director of health shall also adopt, by rule and regulation, a procedure for the expungement in other appropriate circumstances of DNA records contained in the database.

(f)  No expungement shall be granted where an individual has a prior conviction requiring a DNA sample, or a pending charge for which collection of a sample was authorized pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(g)  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. Any identification, warrant, or probable cause to arrest based upon a database match is not invalidated due to a failure to expunge or a delay in expunging records.

(h)  At the time of collection of the DNA sample upon arrest of any crime of violence as defined in § 12-1.5-2, the individual from whom a sample is collected shall be given written notice that the DNA record may be expunged and the DNA sample destroyed in accordance with this section. In addition, the department of health, the office of the attorney general, and the office of the public defender shall post on their websites the expungement provisions of this section.

History of Section.
P.L. 1998, ch. 33, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 120, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 176, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 192, § 1.