California · Penal Code

PEN §298.1: (a) On and after January 1, 1999, any person who refuses to give any or all of the following, blood specimens, saliva samples, or thumb or palm print impressions as required by this chapter, once he o

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A person who refuses to provide blood, saliva, or fingerprint samples after written notice is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $500 fine. Law enforcement may use reasonable force to collect samples.

Read the full statutory text
(a) On and after January 1, 1999, any person who refuses to give any or all of the following, blood specimens, saliva samples, or thumb or palm print impressions as required by this chapter, once he or she has received written notice from the Department of Justice, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, any law enforcement personnel, or officer of the court that he or she is required to provide specimens, samples, and print impressions pursuant to this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor. The refusal or failure to give any or all of the following, a blood specimen, saliva sample, or thumb or palm print impression is punishable as a separate offense by both a fine of five hundred dollars ($500) and imprisonment of up to one year in a county jail, or if the person is already imprisoned in the state prison, by sanctions for misdemeanors according to a schedule determined by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (b) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), authorized law enforcement, custodial, or corrections personnel, including peace officers as defined in Sections 830, 830.1, subdivision (d) of Section 830.2, Sections 830.38, 830.5, or 830.55, may employ reasonable force to collect blood specimens, saliva samples, or thumb or palm print impressions pursuant to this chapter from individuals who, after written or oral request, refuse to provide those specimens, samples, or thumb or palm print impressions. (2) The withdrawal of blood shall be performed in a medically approved manner in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 298. (3) The use of reasonable force as provided in this subdivision shall be carried out in a manner consistent with regulations and guidelines adopted pursuant to subdivision (c). (c) (1) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Division of Juvenile Justice shall adopt regulations governing the use of reasonable force as provided in subdivision (b), which shall include the following: (A) “Use of reasonable force” shall be defined as the force that an objective, trained, and competent correctional employee, faced with similar facts and circumstances, would consider necessary and reasonable to gain compliance with this chapter. (B) The use of reasonable force shall not be authorized without the prior written authorization of the supervising officer on duty. The authorization shall include information that reflects the fact that the offender was asked to provide the requisite specimen, sample, or impression and refused. (C) The use of reasonable force shall be preceded by efforts to secure voluntary compliance with this section. (D) If the use of reasonable force includes a cell extraction, the regulations shall provide that the extraction be video recorded. (2) The Corrections Standards Authority shall adopt guidelines governing the use of reasonable force as provided in subdivision (b) for local detention facilities, which shall include the following: (A) “Use of reasonable force” shall be defined as the force that an objective, trained and competent correctional employee, faced with similar facts and circumstances, would consider necessary and reasonable to gain compliance with this chapter. (B) The use of reasonable force shall not be authorized without the prior written authorization of the supervising officer on duty. The authorization shall include information that reflects the fact that the offender was asked to provide the requisite specimen, sample, or impression and refused. (C) The use of reasonable force shall be preceded by efforts to secure voluntary compliance with this section. (D) If the use of reasonable force includes a cell extraction, the extraction shall be video recorded. (3) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Division of Juvenile Justice, and the Corrections Standards Authority shall report to the Legislature not later than January 1, 2005, on the use of reasonable force pursuant to this section. The report shall include, but is not limited to, the number of refusals, the number of incidents of the use of reasonable force under this section, the type of force used, the efforts undertaken to obtain voluntary compliance, if any, and whether any medical attention was needed by the prisoner or personnel as a result of force being used.

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