Louisiana § RS 15:621 - Prohibition on destruction of evidence; certain cases
Full text of Louisiana Louisiana Civil Code § RS 15:621 — Prohibition on destruction of evidence; certain cases, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ RS 15:621. Prohibition on destruction of evidence; certain cases
A. Prior to December 31, 2012, no criminal justice agency or clerk of court shall destroy any biological evidence in its possession in relation to the investigation, prosecution, or adjudication of any of the following enumerated offenses or attempts to commit any of these offenses: homicide (R.S. 14:29), rape (R.S. 14:41), and armed robbery (R.S. 14:64).
B. The provisions of this Section shall apply only in cases in which an offender has been convicted at trial or has entered a guilty plea pursuant to North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970), and the offender is in the custody of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
C. Nothing in this Section should preclude any criminal justice agency or clerk of court from removing parts containing biological evidence from large items of evidence and retaining only the parts containing biological evidence.
D. Failure by any criminal justice agency or clerk of court to comply with the provisions of this Section shall be governed by Code of Criminal Procedure Article 926.1(H)(6).
E. As used in this Section:
(1) "Biological evidence" means the contents of a sexual assault examination kit or any item that contains blood, semen, hair, saliva, skin tissue, fingerprints, or other identifiable human biological material that may reasonably be used to incriminate or exculpate any person in the criminal investigation, whether that material is catalogued separately on a slide or swab, in a test tube, or some other similar method, or is present on clothing, ligatures, bedding, other household materials, drinking cups, cigarettes, or any other item of evidence, including those that are alleged to have been touched or worn by the perpetrator of the offense. Work product generated during DNA analysis shall not be considered biological evidence with the exception of the extracted DNA when the original biological evidence is consumed during analysis. In this event, the extracted DNA shall be retained.
(2) "Criminal justice agency" means any criminal justice agency as defined in R.S. 15:576(3).
Acts 2011, No. 250, §1, eff. July 1, 2011.
Source: official Louisiana text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Louisiana § RS 15:621
What does Louisiana Civil Code § RS 15:621 cover?
Section RS 15:621 ("Prohibition on destruction of evidence; certain cases") is part of the Louisiana Civil Code, the codified statutory law of Louisiana. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Louisiana § RS 15:621?
A common citation format is "Louisiana Civil Code § RS 15:621" (Louisiana). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Louisiana law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Louisiana official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Louisiana attorney.
How does Louisiana § RS 15:621 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Louisiana can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Louisiana.