Indiana law lets qualified nonprofits fund DNA testing in cold cases

Victims, eligible relatives, county coroners, and participating law enforcement agencies may ask a qualified entity to consider a case for advanced DNA testing. The law covers homicide, sex offense, and high risk missing person investigations, and coroner investigations to identify unknown victims. A law enforcement case must have been open for more than five years with no pending charges; the unknown victim rule also covers coroner cases. A qualified entity considers request order, the crime date, available funds, and any other criteria it sets. After finding a request eligible, the entity must notify the investigating agency. This chapter took effect July 1, 2026.

A law enforcement agency may make an agreement with a qualified entity to fund advanced DNA testing. The agreement concerns advanced DNA testing for cold cases covered by this chapter. The entity must be a tax-exempt nonprofit that has existed for at least five years and works with law enforcement to help solve crimes. The entity must be able to pay all testing costs, including costs charged by the state police lab, and must have an agreement with a law enforcement agency. An agency may cancel or suspend the agreement if it has reason to believe the entity no longer meets the requirements. This chapter took effect July 1, 2026.

After a case is found eligible, the investigating agency and testing lab must work together to choose the testing approach. These steps apply to advanced DNA testing for a case found eligible under this chapter. They determine how much DNA evidence is available and which advanced testing options are appropriate. The lab must preserve the evidence and keep track of who handled it. The agency must send DNA profile information to the state police department as required by law. An agency may also send evidence to a lab for advanced testing at its own expense. This chapter took effect July 1, 2026.