DFS accepts plant material in support of criminal charges relating to marijuana. See the most recent policy notice based on the current Code of Virginia statutes.
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Who can submit evidence to the Department of Forensic Science?
The Department of Forensic Science (DFS), established by Virginia law, provides “forensic laboratory services upon request of the Superintendent of State Police; the Chief Medical Examiner, the Assistant Chief Medical Examiners, and local medical examiners; any attorney for the Commonwealth; any chief of police, sheriff, or sergeant responsible for law enforcement in the jurisdiction served by him; any local fire department; the head of any private police department that has been designated as a criminal justice agency by the Department of Criminal Justice Services as defined by § 9.1-101; or any state agency in any criminal matter. The Department shall provide such services to any federal investigatory agency within available resources.” (Code of Virginia, § 9.1-1101, emphasis added)
When can I submit evidence to the laboratory?
Each of the four laboratories is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM to accept and return evidence. However, laboratories will be closed on State holidays.
How do I submit evidence to the Department for testing?
Evidence submission information and instructions are provided in the Evidence Handling& Laboratory Capabilities Guide beginning on page I-1.
Why does the Certificate of Analysis have a Richmond address if the evidence was submitted to the Northern Laboratory?
Cases may be transferred within the Department to maximize staff resources. All Department of Forensic Science laboratories follow the same Quality Manual and same technical procedures.
How can I receive Forensic Services that are not offered in my regional area?
Evidence may be submitted to your designated regional laboratory. If the requested examination is not performed at your regional laboratory, the case will be transferred within DFS to another one of our laboratories that does perform the examination. For example, if a Digital & Multimedia Evidence examination is required in Virginia Beach, the evidence should be submitted to the Eastern Laboratory in Norfolk, and DFS will transfer it to the Central Laboratory in Richmond.
When should a PERK be submitted to the laboratory for analysis?
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 19.2-11.8, a law-enforcement agency that receives a physical evidence recovery kit (PERK) collected from a victim who has reported the offense shall submit the physical evidence recovery kit to DFS for analysis within 60 days of receipt, except under the following circumstances: (i) it is an anonymous PERK; (ii) the PERK was collected by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as part of a routine death investigation, and the medical examiner and the law-enforcement agency agree that analysis is not warranted; (iii) the PERK is connected to an offense that occurred outside of the Commonwealth; (iv) the PERK was determined by the law-enforcement agency not to be connected to a criminal offense; or (v) another law-enforcement agency has taken over responsibility for the investigation related to the physical evidence recovery kit.
Can DNA testing be conducted without reference samples?
Yes, DNA testing can be conducted without reference samples. However, if reference samples are available they are encouraged to be submitted to the laboratory.
Why are statistics provided in DNA reports?
The statistic provides an estimate for how common or rare the DNA type is estimated to be in the general population.
What types of samples are typically subjected to Mitochondrial DNA testing?
Bone samples and hair shafts are typically tested with Mitochondrial DNA.