Source: Donald E. Shelton, JD, PhD, Jurisprudence Section Chair Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently created a Task Force of Forensic Science and has appointed two AAFS Fellows to join the group. In creating the group, the Governor said, “A fair trial is at the core of the American criminal justice system. While forensic science is […]
Source: Kenneth E. Melson, JD The United States Justice Department has published a statement on the 2016 President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Report, Forensic Science in Criminal Courts: Ensuring Scientific Validity of Feature-Comparison Methods. The statement is a response to PCAST’s claims regarding what it described as forensic “feature comparison methods.” […]
Source: C. Ken Williams, MS, JD, AAFS Treasurer It gives me great pleasure to officially announce the creation of the AAFS COVID-19 Resource Page! The creativity (and patience) of our wonderful Academy staff was put to the test over the past few weeks as information was gathered for what is hoped to become a valuable […]
Source: C. Ken Williams, MS, JD, AAFS Treasurer An email blast was sent to the entire AAFS Membership on 3/31/20 requesting member input on the needs of the nation’s crime labs, Medical Examiner/Coroner offices (ME/C) and medicolegal death investigators as we navigate the COVID-19 crisis as a community. The Coronavirus 3 bill, S.3548 CARES (Coronavirus […]
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has made the following revision to the DOJ Grants Financial Guide. The change implemented below became effective April 15, 2020. Chapter 2.2: Acceptance of Award and Award Conditions and Award Notification and Acceptance Procedures: Revised language to allow electronic signatures on award acceptance documents and Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) forms. The […]
Source: Laura Liptai, PhD, Engineering & Applied Sciences Section This article outlines urgent financial resources to improve practice for smaller forensic science practitioners. As you know, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on Friday, March 27, to help the economy recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. The provision in the Act […]
Source: Jonathan G. McGrath, PhD, MSFS, Senior Policy Analyst, National Institute of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is seeking applications for funding for research and evaluation studies to produce practical knowledge that has the potential to improve the examination and interpretation of […]
Source: Jonathan G. McGrath, PhD, MSFS, Senior Policy Analyst, National Institute of Justice With this solicitation, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) seeks proposals for basic or applied research and development projects. An NIJ forensic science research and development grant supports a discrete, specified, circumscribed project that will: (1) increase the body of knowledge to […]
Source: Jonathan G. McGrath, PhD, MSFS, Senior Policy Analyst, National Institute of Justice The 2020 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act program is a competitive grant program that provides funding to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, and […]
Source: Jonathan G. McGrath, PhD, MSFS, Senior Policy Analyst, National Institute of Justice The United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) seeks to address delays in forensic lab testing with the ultimate goal of reducing court backlogs for drug-related offenses. BJA will select an applicant to establish a pilot project to develop […]
Source: Zeno J. Geradts, PhD, 2019-20 President The Department of Justice has just announced at the International Symposium on Human Identification a new interim policy on forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis and searching. This interim policy becomes effective November 1, 2019. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on the policy before it becomes a […]
Source: Kenneth E. Melson, JD, AAFS CFSO Liaison The CFSO praises the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Principal Deputy Director Dr. Howard Spivak for his comments at the American Society of Crime Lab Director’s 45th Annual Symposium on May 24 and his announcement regarding the Department of Justice (DOJ) formation of a Forensic Laboratory Needs […]
Videos from the 2018 AAFS Annual Scientific Meeting in Seattle are now available to view. Past Presidents John Gerns and Betty Layne DesPortes highlight important topics from each of their presidential terms with the Academy, and President Susan Ballou discusses her vision and goals as she begins her 2018-19 term. The 2018 Plenary Session was […]
Source: Kenneth E. Melson, JD, AAFS CFSO Liaison The CFSO is extremely excited to bring this message to you today. The $1.3 trillion omnibus spending package, which will fund the government for FY18, was signed into law by President Trump on March 23. The House voted 256-167 in favor and the Senate voted 65-32. This […]
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) has launched a monthly newsletter to communicate OSAC program status, activities, accomplishments, and opportunities for public input with internal and external audiences. Newsletter columns will include OSAC Accomplishments, OSAC Vacancies, Upcoming Meetings, Upcoming Public Comment Periods for Standards/Guidelines under Consideration for the OSAC Registry, OSAC […]
LEGISLATION Source: Victor W. Weedn, MD, JD, AAFS 2015-16 President At the end of May, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations approved a $54.1 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bill that made significant cuts to several Department of Justice assistance programs for state, local, and tribal law enforcement […]
Source: Victor W. Weedn, MD, JD, AAFS President Coverdell legislation will require both re-authorization and appropriation. As has become routine, the President’s budget did not include Coverdell funding. Coverdell is, of course, an important funding tool for our community. Again, we need Congress to restore funding and we ask you to contact your representatives in […]
I’m excited and am very much looking forward to serving you as the 66th President of AAFS in this coming year. My theme for the year and the 2016 Annual Scientific Meeting in Las Vegas is: Transformation: Embracing Change. Some recommendations of the National Commission on Forensic Sciences (NCFS) will likely be implemented this year. […]