Forensic DNA and California Q&A

California State Outline

The use of forensic DNA is governed primarily by State legislation and case law and is collected and processed in State and local agencies and laboratories. This page provides or points to answers for the following questions:

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How much Federal funding has California received from the President's DNA Initiative?

Select from the list below to view the funding provided to California by the President's DNA Initiative:

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How many forensic DNA samples from California are in the DNA database?

The number of forensic samples in the California and national DNA databases is constantly changing as new crimes are investigated and changes are made to State laws that require the collection of samples from additional offenders.

The FBI tracks the Number of samples from California in the national database—the National DNA Index System or NDIS.

Learn more about forensic DNA databases.

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Where are samples collected in California analyzed?

State and local laboratories analyze samples collected in California. Some samples may be sent to private laboratories for analysis.

State Laboratory

Department of Justice, Bureau of Forensic Services

Local Laboratories

Contra Costa County Sheriff Forensic Services Division
Fresno County Sheriff Forensic Laboratory
Kern County District Attorney's Office Forensic Science Division
Los Angeles Sheriff, Scientific Services Bureau
Los Angeles Police Department Scientific Inv. Div
Oakland Police Crime Lab
Orange County Sheriff, Forensic Science Services
Sacramento District Attorney Crime Laboratory
San Bernardino Sheriff Scientific Investigations Division
San Diego Police Forensic Science Laboratory
San Diego County Regional Crime Laboratory
San Francisco Police Crime Laboratory
San Mateo County Sheriff Forensic Lab
Santa Clara District Attorney, Laboratory of Criminalistics
Ventura County Sheriff Crime Lab

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Who has to submit a forensic DNA sample?

California statutes determine who must submit a DNA sample for inclusion in the database. Find:

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How many forensic DNA samples are awaiting analysis in California?

We are not aware of any online resource that lists the number of samples awaiting analysis in California.

The number of samples awaiting analysis in any State is constantly changing and affected by State statues, available resources, and crimes committed. Thus, measuring the precise number of unanalyzed DNA samples is prohibitively difficult.

Learn more about the causes and impact of the backlog of DNA evidence.

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What case law has affected the use of forensic DNA in California?

Cases decided at the State and local level set precedence for how other court decisions will be reached.

Find updated links to California cases pertaining to forensic DNA as collected by the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology, and the Law. 

Note: The National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and Law is a free resource sponsored by the National Institute of Justice. Subscription services may provide more comprehensive collections of full-text case law.

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How many people from California have been exonerated by DNA evidence?

While there is no single online source showing everyone from California exonerated by DNA, the Innocence Project provides profiles of those persons they have helped exonerate (this complete list is sortable by State).

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Are those exonerated entitled to compensation?

State law determines if someone convicted of a crime and then exonerated is entitled to compensation.

Read a summary of California's compensation law as provided by the Innocence Project. 

Learn more about compensation laws in other States.

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