Vermont Statutes Title 20. Internal Security and Public Safety, § 1940. Expungement of records and destruction of samples

(a) In accordance with procedures set forth in subsection (b) of this section, the Department shall destroy the DNA sample and any records of a person related to the sample that were taken in connection with a particular alleged designated crime in either of the following circumstances:

(b) If any of the circumstances in subsection (a) of this section occur, the court with jurisdiction or, as the case may be, the Governor, shall so notify the Department, and the person's DNA record in the State DNA database and CODIS and the person's DNA sample in the State DNA data bank shall be removed and destroyed. The Laboratory shall purge the DNA record and all other identifiable information from the State DNA database and CODIS and destroy the DNA sample stored in the State DNA data bank. If the person has more than one entry in the State DNA database, CODIS, or the State DNA data bank, only the entry related to the dismissed case shall be deleted. The Department shall notify the person upon completing its responsibilities under this subsection, by mail addressed to the person's last known address.

(c) If the identity of the subject of a forensic unknown sample becomes known and that subject is excluded as a suspect in the case, the sample record shall be removed from the State DNA database upon the conclusion of the criminal investigation and finalization of any criminal prosecution.

(d) If a DNA sample from the State DNA database, CODIS, or the State DNA data bank is matched to another DNA sample during the course of a criminal investigation, the record of the match shall not be expunged even if the sample itself is expunged in accordance with the provisions of this section. If a match has been made and any of the circumstances in subsection (a) of this section occur, the Department may confirm the match prior to expunging the sample.