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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81103</law_id><section_number>19.2-310.3:1</section_number><catch_line>Procedures for taking saliva or tissue sample for DNA analysis</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="18">Sentence; Judgment; Execution of Sentence</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1.1">DNA Analysis and Data Bank</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Each sample required pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Saliva or tissue sample required for DNA analysis after arrest for a violent felony" href="/19.2-310.2_1/">19.2-310.2:1</a> from persons arrested shall be taken before release from <span class="dictionary">custody</span> at such place as is designated by the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency responsible for <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> booking in the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. Samples shall be taken in accordance with procedures adopted by the Department of Forensic Science. The sample shall be <span class="dictionary">sealed</span> and secured to prevent tampering with the contents and be accompanied by a copy of the <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> warrant or <span class="dictionary">capias</span>. The agency submitting the sample shall provide information pertaining to the sample by (i) logging such information into the Department of Forensic Science DNA data bank sample tracking system at the time of collection or (ii) submitting such information to the Department of Forensic Science along with the sample. The steps herein set forth relating to the taking, handling, identification, and <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of saliva or tissue samples are procedural and not substantive. The sample shall be mailed or transported to the Department of Forensic Science not more than 15 days following withdrawal and shall be analyzed and stored in the DNA data bank in accordance with &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Procedures for conducting DNA analysis of blood, saliva or tissue sample" href="/19.2-310.4/">19.2-310.4</a> and <a class="law" title="DNA data bank" href="/19.2-310.5/">19.2-310.5</a>. <a id="paragraph-290725" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-310.3_1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Substantial compliance therewith shall be deemed to be sufficient. If a sample from the individual is stored in the data bank as indicated by the Department of Forensic Science DNA data bank sample tracking system, no additional sample shall be taken. No civil liability shall attach to any person authorized to take saliva or tissue as provided herein as a result of the act of taking saliva or tissue from any person submitting thereto, provided the saliva or tissue was taken according to recognized medical procedures. However, no person shall be relieved from liability for <span class="dictionary">negligence</span> in the taking of any saliva or tissue sample. <a id="paragraph-290726" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-310.3_1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2002, cc. 753, 773; 2003, c. 150; 2005, cc. 868, 881; 2022, cc. 41, 42.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
