Vermont § 1940 - Expungement of records and destruction of samples

§ 1940. Expungement of records and destruction of samples

• (a) In accordance with procedures set forth in subsection (b) of this section, the Department
  shall destroy the DNA sample and any records of a person related to the sample that
  were taken in connection with a particular alleged designated crime in either of the
  following circumstances: (1) A person’s conviction related to an incident that caused the DNA sample to be taken
  is reversed, and the case is dismissed. (2) The person is granted a full pardon related to an incident that caused the DNA sample
  to be taken. (b) If any of the circumstances in subsection (a) of this section occur, the court with
  jurisdiction or, as the case may be, the Governor shall so notify the Department,
  and the person’s DNA record in the State DNA database and CODIS and the person’s DNA
  sample in the State DNA data bank shall be removed and destroyed. The Laboratory shall
  purge the DNA record and all other identifiable information from the State DNA database
  and CODIS and destroy the DNA sample stored in the State DNA data bank. If the person
  has more than one entry in the State DNA database, CODIS, or the State DNA data bank,
  only the entry related to the dismissed case shall be deleted. The Department shall
  notify the person upon completing its responsibilities under this subsection, by mail
  addressed to the person’s last known address. (c) If the identity of the subject of a forensic unknown sample becomes known and that
  subject is excluded as a suspect in the case, the sample record shall be removed from
  the State DNA database upon the conclusion of the criminal investigation and finalization
  of any criminal prosecution. (d) If a DNA sample from the State DNA database, CODIS, or the State DNA data bank is
  matched to another DNA sample during the course of a criminal investigation, the record
  of the match shall not be expunged even if the sample itself is expunged in accordance
  with the provisions of this section. If a match has been made and any of the circumstances
  in subsection (a) of this section occur, the Department may confirm the match prior
  to expunging the sample. (Added 1997, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 29, 1998; amended 2005, No. 83, § 9, eff. June 28, 2005; 2009, No. 1, § 22, eff. March 4, 2009; 2009, No. 1, § 25, eff. July 1, 2011; 2015, No. 122 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. May 23, 2016; 2023, No. 46, § 22, eff. June 5, 2023.)