In California, Proposition 47 was passed in 2014 to reduce many low level, nonviolent felonies to misdemeanors; the law also applies retroactively. Proposition 47 did not address what should happen to DNA samples in these cases, but the 4th Circuit recently held that individuals whose offenses are reclassified as misdemeanors should have their DNA removed from the statewide database absent another statutory basis for retaining the DNA. Read the 4th Circuit’s full opinion here.