2022 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 17 - Criminal Procedures
Chapter 28 - Post-conviction Dna Testing And Preservation Of Evidence
Section 17-28-100. Disclosure and use of test results; motion for new trial.

(A) The results of the DNA test must be fully disclosed to the court, the applicant, and the solicitor or Attorney General, as applicable. The victim shall be notified of the results of the DNA test pursuant to Article 15, Chapter 3, Title 16. The court shall order the production of any written reports and laboratory reports prepared in connection with the DNA testing, including underlying data and notes.

(B) The results of the DNA test may be used by the applicant, solicitor, or Attorney General in any post-conviction proceeding or trial. If the results of the DNA test are exculpatory, the applicant may use the exculpatory results of the DNA test as grounds for filing a motion for new trial pursuant to the South Carolina Rules of Criminal Procedure. If the results of the DNA test are inconclusive, the court may allow for additional DNA testing or may dismiss the application. If the results of the DNA test are inculpatory, the court shall dismiss the application and shall, on motion of the solicitor or Attorney General, as applicable:

(1) make a determination whether the applicant's assertion of actual innocence was intentionally false and, as a result, hold the applicant in contempt of court;

(2) assess against the applicant the cost of any DNA testing not already paid by the applicant;

(3) forward the findings to the South Carolina Department of Corrections, who may use such finding to deny good conduct credit; and

(4) forward the findings to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, who may use the findings to deny parole.

(C) Except as otherwise provided in this article, DNA records, results, and information taken from the applicant are exempt from any law requiring disclosure of information to the public.

HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 413, Section 1, eff January 1, 2009.