CPL § 715.50

Analysis of dangerous drugs · as in force on May 31, 2026

§ 715.50 Analysis of dangerous drugs.

1. On and after September first, nineteen hundred seventy-three, in every felony case involving the possession or sale of a dangerous drug, the head of the agency charged with custody of such drugs, or his designee, shall within forty-five days after receipt thereof perform or cause to be performed an analysis of such drugs, such analysis to include qualitative identification; weight and quantity where appropriate.

2. Within ten days after the report of such analysis is received by such agency, the head thereof or his designee shall forward a copy thereof to the appropriate district attorney and inform him of the location where the subject drugs are being held.

3. The failure to have an analysis made or to forward a copy thereof within the time specified in subdivisions one and two of this section shall not be deemed or construed to bar the making or granting of a motion pursuant to this article or to the prosecution of a case involving such drugs.

Official sourcehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/715.50

In plain English

In every felony dangerous-drug possession or sale case, the custodial agency must analyze the drugs and report the result.

(1) The agency head or designee must complete an analysis within 45 days after receiving the drugs, including identification and, when appropriate, weight and quantity. ★
(2) Within 10 days after receiving the analysis report, send a copy to the proper district attorney and state where the drugs are held.
(3) Missing either deadline does not bar a destruction motion or the prosecution.

Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.

In print

This provision appears in Volume 1 — The Court Officer in Plain English; Volume 2 — The Court Officer: Criminal Procedure Law; Volume 2 — Your Career: Criminal Procedure in Plain English.