Procedimiento para solicitar pruebas de ADN en Carolina del Sur

Explicación Simple

Si alguien fue condenado por un crimen, puede pedir que se hagan pruebas de ADN para ver si es inocente. El juez y otras personas involucradas deben revisar la solicitud y decidir si se hacen las pruebas.

Es como si alguien quisiera volver a revisar un examen de matemáticas que cree que le fue mal. Pide a su profesor que revise las respuestas y, si hay algo que no se vio antes, se puede cambiar la calificación.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan fue condenado por un robo que no cometió. Después de varios años, encuentra pruebas de ADN que podrían demostrar su inocencia. Juan presenta una solicitud al juez para que se realicen esas pruebas, y el tribunal revisa su petición junto con la opinión de la víctima y el fiscal.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

SECTION 17-28-50. Application for testing; notification of prosecutor, custodian of evidence, and victim; dismissal; successive applications. (A) The clerk shall file the application upon its receipt and promptly bring it to the attention of the court and deliver for docketing a copy to the solicitor of the circuit in which the applicant was convicted or adjudicated. The Attorney General and the appropriate custodian of evidence shall be notified by the solicitor. The victim shall be notified pursuant to the provisions of Article 15, Chapter 3, Title 16. (B) Within ninety days after the forwarding of the application, or upon any further time the court may fix, the solicitor of the circuit in which the applicant was convicted or adjudicated, or the Attorney General if the Attorney General prosecuted the case, shall respond to the application. Within ninety days after the docketing of the application, or within any further time the court may fix, the victim may respond as provided in Article 15, Chapter 3, Title 16. The court may proceed with a hearing if the solicitor or Attorney General, as applicable, or the victim does not respond to the application. (C) At any time prior to entry of judgment the court may, when appropriate, issue orders for amendment of the application and for any documents related to the application including, but not limited to, pleadings, motions, and requests for extensions of time. In considering the application and related documents, the court shall take account of substance, regardless of defects of form. When the court is satisfied, on the basis of the application, the responses, or the motion of the solicitor or Attorney General, as applicable, that the applicant is not entitled to DNA testing and no purpose would be served by any further pr