Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-30-409

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • fingerprint analysis: means the processes through which fingerprints are analyzed and compared for identification purposes, including, but not limited to, latent print comparisons and searches in fingerprint databases. See Tennessee Code 40-30-402

When the petition is not summarily dismissed, the court shall order that all evidence in the possession of the prosecution, law enforcement, laboratory, or the court that could be subjected to fingerprint analysis must be preserved during the pendency of the proceeding. The intentional destruction of evidence after such an order may result in appropriate sanctions, including criminal contempt for a knowing violation of the court’s order.