Louisiana

Arrestees: Yes. First arrestee law in the nation. Booking Station Rapid Ready.

Qualifying Crimes: Felonies and other specified offenses (listed below), including some misdemeanors and felony-grade delinquent acts — reaching attempt, conspiracy, criminal solicitation, and accessory after the fact.

Other specified offenses: battery of a police officer, school teacher, school or recreation athletic contest official, or correctional facility employee; simple battery; battery of a child welfare or adult protective service worker; simple battery of persons with infirmities; domestic abuse battery; assault; aggravated assault; unlawful use of a laser on a police officer; simple assault; assault on a school teacher; stalking; misdemeanor sexual battery; identity theft; misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile; prohibited sexual conduct between educator and student; prostitution; soliciting for prostitutes; inciting prostitution; prostitution by massage; massage, sexual conduct prohibited; letting premises for prostitution; contributing to the delinquency of juveniles; illegal carrying of weapons; illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile; hate crimes; peeping tom; inciting to riot.

Time of Collection: Taken at the same time the arrestee is fingerprinted during booking. The sample may be analyzed during or immediately after booking, or at any point afterward.

Expungement: By written request with a certified court order of expungement and sealing, where the arrest produced neither a conviction nor a plea agreement.

Statutes / Case Law

LSA-R.S. §15:603 Definitions

§15:604. Powers and duties of state police

§15:609. Drawing or taking of DNA samples

§15:610. Procedures for withdrawal, collection, and transmission of DNA samples

§15:614. Removal of records

LA. Admin. Code TIT. 55, § I-2722

Convicted Offenders: Yes.

Qualifying Crimes: Felonies, other specified offenses (listed below), and felony-grade delinquent acts — reaching attempt, conspiracy, criminal solicitation, and accessory after the fact. The other specified offenses are: battery of a police officer, school teacher, school or recreation athletic contest official, or correctional facility employee; simple battery; battery of a child welfare or adult protective service worker; simple battery of persons with infirmities; domestic abuse battery; assault; aggravated assault; unlawful use of a laser on a police officer; simple assault; assault on a school teacher; stalking; misdemeanor sexual battery; identity theft; misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile; prohibited sexual conduct between educator and student; prostitution; soliciting for prostitutes; inciting prostitution; prostitution by massage; massage, sexual conduct prohibited; letting premises for prostitution; contributing to the delinquency of juveniles; illegal carrying of weapons; illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile; hate crimes; peeping tom; inciting to riot.

Time of Collection: Where no sample was taken at arrest: immediately after sentencing, at intake, or before release. If sentenced to confinement, collection occurs at intake to the prison, jail, or other facility — or immediately after sentencing at a facility the court specifies. Where a plea results in no incarceration, collection occurs before release. In every case the sample must be taken before release.

Expungement: By written request with a certified court order of expungement and sealing, where the conviction was reversed and the case dismissed.

Statutes / Case Law

LSA-R.S. § 15:603. Definitions;

LSA-R.S. § 15:604. Powers and Duties of State Police;

LSA-R.S. § 15:609. Drawing or taking of DNA samples;

LSA-R.S. § 15:610. Procedures for withdrawal, collection, and transmission of DNA Samples;

LSA-R.S. § 15:614. Removal of Records

Legislative History

HB 1377 (1997 Regular Session) by Rep. Hunt Downer → enacted as Acts 1997, No. 737, effective September 1, 1999. This is the bill that created the entire Chapter 6-A, titled the “DNA Detection of Sexual and Violent Offenders Act.” It established every section from RS 15:601 through 15:619 in a single act, including RS 15:604 (state police powers and duties), RS 15:605 (DNA data base), RS 15:606 (DNA data bank), and RS 15:609 (the core collection mandate). Signed by the Governor July 9, 1997. Effective date September 1, 1999

H.C.R. No. 40 (1999 Regular Session) — A House Concurrent Resolution that itself became effective June 21, 1999, and appears alongside Acts 1997, No. 737 in the statutory citation for every section in the chapter. It effectively confirmed or adjusted the September 1, 1999 operational date for the chapter.

SB 346 (2003 Regular Session) by Sen. Jay Dardenne → Acts 2003, No. 487, eff. June 20, 2003 Expanded the scope of DNA sampling from arrested and convicted felons, and repealed the original §§615 and 619. This was the most substantial early expansion of the mandate.

HB 346 (2009 Regular Session) by Rep. Pope → Acts 2009, No. 9 Revised the method of collecting DNA samples for inclusion in the state database — specifically affected RS 15:609 and 15:610.

SB 544 (2010 Regular Session) by Sen. Thompson → Acts 2010, No. 209. Added offenses to the list requiring DNA collection (amended RS 15:603 definitions of covered offenses).

• Louisiana has a Rapid DNA Booking Station Program. First agency in the US to receive FBI approval to operate a Rapid DNA Booking Program using Rapid DNA. Several active parishes:
  • East Baton Rouge PSO
  • Livingston PSO
  • Ascension PSO
  • Ouachita PSO
  • Grant PSO
  • Jefferson PSO
  • Orleans PSO (not online but in progress)
• SB 132 (2021, enacted) passed gave more collection / timing authority to allow Rapid DNA.

No program or law found.

• State Police received FY2024 SAKI funding ($1.5M) to research, review, and collect lawfully owed DNA from arrestees and convicted offenders for CODIS. DOJ award announcement · SAKI – LSP
• SB 151 (2026, sent to governor for signature) – Driver Licenses may not be issued or renewed if there is a flag on the person’s record for a lawfully owed DNA sample (due to a prior qualifying arrest or conviction), or if there is an outstanding request for a DNA sample due to a CODIS match (needed for confirmation).

• SB 320 (2026, enacted) – tracking and performance monitoring of outstanding CODIS hits for sexual or violent offenses. Establishes a centralized accountability structure to ensure that scientific matches successfully translate into active law enforcement investigations and legal resolutions.