SB266 Alabama 2021 Session

Under existing law, only a petitioner convicted of capital murder may request forensic DNA testing of evidence from the investigation or trial

This bill would allow additional petitioners to request forensic DNA testing of evidence by expanding the list of eligible crimes

Under existing law, a court may grant a petitioner's request for DNA testing when the petitioner proves the testing would demonstrate the petitioner's factual innocence of the offense committed

This bill would require a petitioner to demonstrate by reasonable probability that he or she would not have been convicted or would have received a lesser sentence in order to get a court to grant a request for DNA testing

Under existing law, DNA testing is limited to previously untested evidence

This bill would allow DNA testing for previously untested evidence or previously tested evidence in order to gain more probative results

Relating to criminal procedure; to amend Section 15-18-200, Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide for requests for DNA testing of evidence by certain petitioners; to establish procedures and standards for granting a motion requesting DNA testing; and to provide retroactive testing under certain circumstances.