Title 34 — NavyRelease 119-73

§40728 Establishment of best practices for evidence retention

Title 34 › Subtitle Subtitle IV— - Criminal Records and Information › Chapter CHAPTER 407— - DNA IDENTIFICATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - TRAINING, TECHNOLOGY, RESEARCH, AND EXPANDED USE › § 40728

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Director of the National Institute of Justice must create guidelines for keeping forensic evidence safe and preserved. To do this, the Director will work with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and government laboratories. The Director must also help state, local, and tribal governments put those guidelines into practice. The Director must publish the guidelines no later than 1 year after December 16, 2016. Following the guidelines is voluntary and not legally required.

Full Legal Text

Title 34, §40728

Navy — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Director of the National Institute of Justice, in consultation with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and government laboratories, shall—

(1)establish best practices for evidence retention to focus on the preservation of forensic evidence; and

(2)assist State, local, and tribal governments in adopting and implementing the best practices established under paragraph (1).

(b)Not later than 1 year after December 16, 2016, the Director of the National Institute of Justice shall publish the best practices established under subsection (a)(1).

(c)Nothing in this section shall be construed to require or obligate compliance with the best practices established under subsection (a)(1).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 14136f of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

34 U.S.C. § 40728

Title 34 — Navy

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73