Title 9.1, Title 9.1. Commonwealth Public Safety

Whenever the possession or transfer of any item or material is prohibited by law, such prohibition shall not apply to any Department employee who possesses or transfers such prohibited item or material while engaged in the performance of his official duties.

A. The Department and its facilities shall be located so as to ensure the protection of evidence. B. The Department shall provide for security and protection of evidence, official samples, and all other samples submitted to the Department for analysis or examination. C. The Depar…

The Forensic Science Academy, formerly within the Division of Forensic Science, shall be transferred to the Department, and shall provide advanced training to law-enforcement agencies in the location, collection, and preservation of evidence.

Upon the request of any person accused of a crime or upon the request of an accused person's attorney, the Department or the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services shall furnish to the accused or his attorney the results of any investigation that has been conducted by it an…

Independent experts employed by (i) an attorney of record for a person accused of violation of any criminal law of the Commonwealth or (ii) the accused, for the purpose of reexamination of materials previously examined in any laboratory of the Department, shall conduct their anal…

Any material that is seized in any criminal investigation and that is deemed to be hazardous to health and safety, may be disposed of upon written application of the Department to the attorney for the Commonwealth in the city or county where the material is seized or where any cr…

Personal property, including drugs, not disposed of under § 9.1-1106, that has been submitted to the Department for analysis or examination and that has not been reclaimed by the agency submitting the property for analysis or examination, may be disposed of by the Department in a…

Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 9.1-1106 and 9.1-1107, the Department may file an application in the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond seeking an order authorizing the disposal of all personal property, including drugs, received by the Department more than 15 years prior…

A. The Forensic Science Board (the Board) is established as a policy board within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government. The Board shall consist of 15 members as follows: 1. The Superintendent of the Virginia State Police or his designee; 2. The D…

A. The Board shall have the power and duty to: 1. Adopt regulations, pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.), for the administration of (i) this chapter or (ii) §§ 18.2-268.6, 18.2-268.9, 19.2-188.1, and 19.2-310.5 and for any provisions of the Code as the…

The Scientific Advisory Committee is hereby established as an advisory board within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government. The Scientific Advisory Committee (the Committee) shall consist of 13 members, consisting of the Director of the Department,…

The Committee shall meet twice a year and at such other times as it determines or as directed by the Governor or the Forensic Science Board. A chairman shall be elected from among the members appointed by the Governor. Staff to the Committee shall be provided by the Department of…

A. The Committee may review laboratory operations of the Department and make recommendations concerning the quality and timeliness of services furnished to user agencies. B. The Committee shall review and make recommendations as necessary to the Director of the Department and the…