{"data":{"id":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-2a-84a-32e","jurisdiction":"us-nj","citation":"N.J. Stat. § 2A:84A-32e","heading":"Findings, declarations relative to preservation of biological evidence.","body":"1.\tThe Legislature finds and declares that:\na.\tThe value of properly preserved biological evidence has been enhanced by the discovery of modern DNA testing methods, which, coupled with a comprehensive system of DNA databases that store crime scene and offender profiles, allow law enforcement to improve its crime-solving potential;\nb.\tTapping the potential of preserved biological evidence requires that this evidence be properly identified, collected, preserved, stored, catalogued, and organized;\nc.\tLaw enforcement agencies indicate that \"cold\" case investigations are hindered by an inability to access biological evidence that was collected during criminal investigations;\nd.\tInnocent people mistakenly convicted of serious crimes for which biological evidence is probative cannot prove their innocence if the evidence is not accessible for testing under appropriate circumstances;\ne.\tIt is established that the failure to update policies regarding the preservation of evidence squanders valuable law enforcement resources, manpower hours, and storage space; and\nf.\tSimple but crucial enhancements to protocols for properly preserving biological evidence can solve old crimes, enhance public safety, and settle claims of innocence.\nL.2017, c.248, s.1.","path":["TITLE 2A ADMINISTRATION OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE"],"source_url":"https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/statutes/STATUTES-TEXT.zip","current_through":"P.L.2025, c.405, and J.R.22","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T17:54:13Z","sha256":"7b986332237c72184ec70eaa718c25f17f5f19b1b144ca5c3f8106f8c7d381ee","source_id":"us-nj","stale":true,"prev":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-2a-84a-32d","next":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-2a-84a-32f"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}