Administering Entity
Division of Scientific Services within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP)
Enhanced Budget Items
- HB 7287 (2025, enacted) – allocated $1.3 million in 2026-2026 and the same amount in 2026-2027 to forensic sex evidence exams.
Arrestees: Yes, from adults and minors, but only if previously convicted for a felony and the sample was not taken. Connecticut requires DNA sample collections from arrestees but only if that arrestee had been previously convicted of a qualifying crime (for DNA sample collection) and did not give a DNA sample yet.
Qualifying Crimes: Arrest for a serious felony where the person was previously convicted of a felony and no DNA sample was ever collected.
Time of Collection: Collected “prior to release from custody,” at a time and place set by the law enforcement agency.
Expungement: Occurs when the Division of Scientific Services receives a certified copy of the court order dismissing or nolling the charge, or acquitting the arrested person.
Statutes / Case Law
C.G.S.A. § 54-102G. BLOOD OR OTHER BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE REQUIRED FROM CERTAIN ARRESTED OR CONVICTED PERSONS FOR DNA ANALYSIS
§ 54–102H. PROCEDURE FOR COLLECTION OF BLOOD OR OTHER BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE FOR DNA ANALYSIS
§ 54–102 J – DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION IN DNA DATA BANK
§ 54–102L. EXPUNGEMENT OF DNA DATA BANK RECORDS AND DESTRUCTION OF SAMPLES
§ 54–102L. EXPUNGEMENT OF DNA DATA BANK RECORDS AND DESTRUCTION OF SAMPLES
State v. Banks, 71 A.3d 582, 143 Conn. App. 485 (Conn. App. 2013), aff’d 321 Conn. 821, 146 A.3d 1 (2016) (Statute requiring all felons in custody to submit to collection of DNA sample implicitly included permission to use reasonable force to obtain sample in order to achieve legislature’s goal of creating DNA data bank, and legislature later amended statute to permit state to use reasonable force).
State v. Drakes, 321 Conn. 857, 866, 146 A.3d 21, 26 (2016) (Prosecution for refusing to submit to DNA testing pursuant to § 54-102g does not constitute double jeopardy).
Convicted Offender: Yes
Qualifying Crimes: Conviction of a felony (a category that includes motor-vehicle violations punished by more than one year of imprisonment), a crime against a minor, a nonviolent sexual offense, or a sexually violent offense — as well as findings of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect for those offenses (see below). Also covered: persons convicted in another state of a felony, or of a crime whose essential elements substantially match a criminal offense against a minor or a nonviolent or sexually violent sexual offense, who are in custody or serving probation or parole in Connecticut.
Also, a person who has been found not guilty by reason of mental defect or disease under § 53a-13 of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor, a nonviolent sexual offense or a sexually violent offense.
Time of Collection: Prior to release from custody if incarcerated. If not incarcerated, at a time and place specified by Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Department.
If not guilty by reason of mental disease/defect, prior to a court hearing at a time and place specified by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services or the Commissioner of Developmental Services
If on probation or parole (including the supervision of the Judicial Department or the Board of Pardons and Paroles or is under the jurisdiction of the Psychiatric Security Review Board, prior to discharge
Expungement: Automatic once the Division of Scientific Services (Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection) receives a certified copy of either (1) the court order reversing and dismissing the conviction or the not-guilty-by-reason-of-mental-disease-or-defect finding, or (2) the court order dismissing or nolling the charge, or acquitting the person.
Statutes / Case Law
C.G.S.A. § 54-102g. Blood or Other Biological Sample Required from Certain Arrested or Convicted Persons for DNA Analysis
54–102h. Procedure for Collection of Blood or Other Biological Sample for DNA Analysis
54–102i. Procedure for Conducting DNA Analysis of Blood or Other Biological Sample
54–102 J – Dissemination of Information in DNA Data Bank
54–102L. Expungement of DNA Data Bank Records and Destruction of Samples
State v. Banks, 71 A.3d 582, 143 Conn. App. 485 (Conn. App. Ct. 2013), aff’d 321 Conn. 821, 146 A.3d 1 (2016) (Statute requiring all felons in custody to submit to collection of DNA sample implicitly included permission to use reasonable force to obtain sample in order to achieve legislature’s goal of creating DNA data bank, and legislature later amended statute to permit state to use reasonable force).
State v. Drakes, 321 Conn. 857, 866, 146 A.3d 21, 26 (2016) (Prosecution for refusing to submit to DNA testing pursuant to § 54-102g does not constitute double jeopardy).
Legislative History
Public Act 03-242 (2003) expanded mandatory testing from a handful of sexual offenses to all felonies (plus offenses against minors and sexual offenses defined in § 54-250), and it created the DNA Data Bank Oversight Panel now codified at § 54-102m (history line: “P.A. 03-242, S. 5”). It also added the probation/parole sampling provision now in § 54-102g(e).
Public Act 11-207 (2011) — “An Act Requiring DNA Testing of Persons Arrested for the Commission of a Serious Felony” (HB 6489) — added the current § 54-102g(a), authorizing sample collection at arrest (not just conviction) for someone arrested for a serious felony who had a prior felony conviction, effective October 1, 2011.
- Rapid DNA Casework Program
- Connecticut has mobile laboratory truck with Rapid DNA and ballistics installed, performing casework at crime scenes.
- There is also a Law Enforcement program where officers can come in and test crime scene evidence, searched against the State crime lab’s index of convicted offenders (include database cite here).
- Program is administered by State crime lab, and the Connecticut DNA Data Bank Oversight Panel provides oversight support.
- No program or law found.
- Possible RFP for FGG program build out.
- HB 5128 (2026, died) – an Act concerning direct-to-consumer genetic testing. It did not pass itself, but absorbed into SB 4 (2026, enacted May 27, 2026).
- Includes language on requiring consumer consent or warrant before disclosing information to law enforcement.
Database Hit Outcome Tracking
HB 5291 (2026, enacted) – among other things, includes collection deadline requirements and directs a formal study of lawfully owed DNA in Connecticut. Regarding collection timelines, the new language directs collection no later than six months after sentencing or entering probation (replacing “prior to release from custody”). This makes collection occur earlier on just after conviction, not later near the end of the offender’s incarceration/sentence.
No program or law found.
