(a)  Any person who, by virtue of employment or official position, or any person contracting to carry out any functions under this chapter, including any officers, employees and agents of a contractor, having possession of or access to individually identifiable DNA information contained in the state DNA database or in the state DNA databank and discloses it in any manner to any person or agency not authorized to receive it, commits a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

lawyer at desk

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 12-1.5-15

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  Except as authorized by law, any person who, for purposes of having DNA analysis performed, obtains or attempts to obtain any DNA sample, or tampers or attempts to tamper with any DNA sample, commits a felony punishable by a fine not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both.

(c)  Any person aggrieved by a violation of § 12-1.5-14 may, in addition, bring a civil action for damages, injunctive relief, and reasonable attorneys’ fees.

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