Massachusetts law about DNA evidence

Laws, regulations, cases, and web sources on DNA evidence law.

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Massachusetts laws

MGL c. 22E State DNA database

MGL c. 278A Post-conviction access to forensic and scientific analysis

Massachusetts regulations

515 CMR 1.00 Collection, submission, receipt, identification, storage, and disposal of DNA samples

515 CMR 2.00 Testing and analysis, quality assurance, computerized storage, retrieval, and dissemination for the State DNA database

515 CMR 7.00 Long term retention and preservation of evidence by governmental entities

515 CMR 8.00 Testing of quantity limited evidence within the sexual assault evidence collection kit pursuant to M.G.L. c. 41, § 97B 1/2

Federal laws

34 USC §§ 12591-12593 DNA identification (State and local law enforcement)

34 USC §§ 40701-40744 DNA identification

Rules and guidelines

Federal rules of evidence

Rule 702 Testimony by expert witnesses

Rule 703 Bases of an expert

Rule 705 Disclosing the facts or data underlying an expert

Massachusetts guide to evidence

Section 702 Testimony by expert witnesses

Section 703 Bases of opinion testimony by experts

Section 705 Disclosure of facts or data underlying expert opinion

Selected cases

Selected court cases on DNA evidence

Web sources

ABA Standards for criminal justice: DNA evidence, American Bar Association, 2007.

The biological evidence preservation handbook: Best practices for evidence handlers, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2013.

CODIS: Combined DNA Indexing System, FBI.
The national database of DNA evidence, "CODIS enables federal, state, and local crime labs to exchange and compare DNA profiles electronically, thereby linking crimes to each other and to convicted offenders." Site includes statistics, standards, and more.

Forensic biology/Forensic DNA, National Institute of Justice.
Features articles and publications on forensic DNA research and development and their applications to the law.

Interim policy: Forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis and searching, U.S. Department of Justice.

Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory, Massachusetts State Police.
Provides professional forensic services to the Commonwealth's criminal justice system. Includes standards and protocols for laboratory testing.

Model jury instruction: Inconclusive DNA testing, from Comm. v. Barnett, 482 Mass. 632 (2019), FN 8.

Reference manual on scientific evidence, 3^rd ed., Federal Judicial Center, 2011.

• pp. 55–127 — Reference Guide on Forensic Identification Expertise by Paul C. Giannelli, Edward J. Imwinkleried, and Joseph L. Peterson.
• pp. 129–210 — Reference Guide on DNA Identification Evidence by David H. Kaye and George Sensabaugh.

What every law enforcement officer should know about DNA evidence, National Institute of Justice.
Explains ways to avoid contamination and includes chart of potential sources of DNA evidence.

Print sources

Crime and consequence: The collateral consequences of criminal conduct, 4^th ed., MCLE, 2023.
Chapter 5: DNA registry. 

Criminal law, 3^rd ed. (Mass Practice v. 32), West Pub. Co., 2001 with supplement.
Section 149: Forensic technology—DNA samples.

Criminal practice and procedure, 4^th ed. (Mass Practice v. 30B), Thomson Reuters, 2014 with supplement.
Section 42:30.50: Statutory postconviction access to forensic and scientific discovery.

Deconstructing a DNA case, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2022, 4 DVD set.

DNA & criminal forensics, MCLE, 2020.

Massachusetts criminal law: A District Court prosecutor’s guide, Massachusetts Prosecutor’s Guide, 2020.
TOC: Identification evidence: Forensic identification: DNA Testing.

Massachusetts expert witnesses, 4^th ed., MCLE, 2022.
Chapter 12: DNA evidence.

Pattern cross-examination for DNA and biological evidence, NACDL CLE Institute, 2021.

Scientific evidence, 6^th ed., LexisNexis, 2020. (eBook available with library card)
Chapter 18: The DNA genetic marker.

Sexual assault trials, 5^th ed., LexisNexis, 2022.
Chapter 13: DNA and scientific evidence.

Trying murder and other homicide cases in Massachusetts, 4^th ed., MCLE, loose-leaf, 2021.
Chapter 16: Forensic DNA issues.

Trying sex offense cases in Massachusetts, 4^th ed., MCLE, 2025.
Chapter 7: Forensic evidence.

Last updated:	February 19, 2026