The NC State Crime Laboratory has updated its evidence protocols pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-268, which requires that the lab review and update its minimum guidelines for the preservation of biological evidence every two years. The procedures were updated in Aug. 7, 2020.
Information about these updates was shared with IDS, the Chief Public Defenders, and other criminal justice stakeholders. More information and a Guide for Law Enforcement Agencies and the Courts of North Carolina is available here.
The updated policies include information about best practices for evidence handling in court, storage of biological evidence prior to submission to the State Crime Laboratory, and storage of unreported or anonymous sexual assault evidence collection kits. Also included is a chart which specifies how different types of evidence should be stored after it has been analyzed by the State Crime Lab.
Attorneys should take a few minutes to review the updated policies as well as the lab’s Policy and Procedure for Evidence Submission. These policies clarify what testing is offered by the State Crime Lab and any limitations on that testing.