---
type: "LegalText"
title: "18 U.S.C. § 3297"
description: "Cases involving DNA evidence"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "213"
chapter_name: "LIMITATIONS"
section: "3297"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 3297"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc18@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s3297"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-18/usc18.xml"
source_hash: "d1df669a6d31bf412d5af7698fed814480d710aee3c9f3c1a644afa264d288e2"
raw_snapshot_hash: "1a1bbbbdb59e376ada4eb7ad1056fd68d396679ee7ab59f0561af15006122708"
text_hash: "3275e8f4a78b7dd0f7a9ac35ae4def9e4449ea3025bb7477c5d64fac0a3decdf"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 18 U.S.C. § 3297 - Cases involving DNA evidence

## Text

In a case in which DNA testing implicates an identified person in the commission of a felony, no statute of limitations that would otherwise preclude prosecution of the offense shall preclude such prosecution until a period of time following the implication of the person by DNA testing has elapsed that is equal to the otherwise applicable limitation period.

(Added Pub. L. 108–405, title II, § 204(a), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2271; amended Pub. L. 109–162, title X, § 1005, Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 3086.)

## Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments2006—Pub. L. 109–162 struck out “except for a felony offense under chapter 109A,” before “no statute of limitations”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DatePub. L. 108–405, title II, § 204(c), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2271, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [enacting this section] shall apply to the prosecution of any offense committed before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this section [Oct. 30, 2004] if the applicable limitation period has not yet expired.”