Source: Susan M. Ballou, MS, 2018-19 President During my undergraduate studies, one of my professors queried the class with the question: Would you allow ten suspected murderers to be released to ensure an innocent person wouldn’t remain in prison? Due to the passage of time, I cannot emphatically state the question is correctly phrased, but […]
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 […]
Source: Jonathan G. McGrath, PhD, MSFS, Senior Policy Analyst, National Institute of Justice Please see the information below regarding the recently posted Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance “Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-Based Program FY 2018 Competitive Grant Announcement.” An informational webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, AAFS President The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) looks forward to working with the Justice Department and others to advance forensic science. Forensic science is a crucial tool in the search for the truth that must be available to all participants in the justice system. Collaboration with the […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, AAFS President The DOJ today announced two new projects relating to forensic science. The projects will develop guidelines for examiner testimony and reports and will implement a testimony-monitoring program to ensure compliance with the uniform language standards. The DOJ press release announcing the projects is here. Deputy Attorney […]
Source: Jan Seaman Kelly, BA, Section Secretary Abstracts for workshops and oral and poster presentations to be presented at the 2018 AAFS meeting in Seattle, WA, are due August 1. The theme is “Science Matters.” Consider using this opportunity to present an oral or a poster presentation on a specific examination or testing procedure you use. Should […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS On May 13, 2017, I had the honor of speaking at the commencement exercises for the Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Forensic Sciences. This Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) -accredited program had 45 Bachelor of Science graduates and 15 Master of Science graduates for 2017. When I […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, AAFS President The Department of Justice (DOJ) has requested public comment on how the Department should move forward to evaluate and improve the underlying science of forensic evidence, improve the operational management systems of forensic science service providers, and improve the understanding of forensic science by legal practitioners. The […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, AAFS President Message to the Membership: On March 7, 2017, the AAFS Board of Directors requested input from the membership on two pieces of legislation proposed by the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO), of which AAFS is a member. The two pieces of federal legislation concerned: (1) the […]
The American Bar Association (ABA) Criminal Justice Section and the Louis Stein Center for Law and Ethics brings together expert academics, prosecutors, defense lawyers, judges, scientists, and others to discuss forensic evidence and its impact on criminal justice. Speakers include representatives from the Department of Justice, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and […]
The National Commission on Forensic Science Draft Work Products is now open for public comment for the United States Department of Justice. This information has recently been updated and is now available at http://www.justice.gov/ncfs/draft-work-products-open-public-comment. Seven (7) Initial Draft work products are now available for public comment. The comment period will close on April 5, 2016, […]
Legislation: Source: Victor Weedn, MD, JD, AAFS 2015-16 President It seems that frustration has been growing within Washington circles about the lack of forensic science reform. Simultaneously, in the wake of more police shootings, there has been increasing consensus for a need for criminal justice reform that may subsume forensic science reform. Regardless, this year […]
The next National Commission on Forensic Science meeting will be held December 7-8, 2015, in Washington, DC. As you will note, there are several documents that are either up for final vote or for introduction. Please consider reviewing the documents and providing any feedback to the Commission via the Department Of Justice (DOJ) portal (http://www.justice.gov/ncfs/draft-work-products-open-public-comment. The […]
On November 10, 2015, AAFS Criminalistics Section Chair John Lentini was honored by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) as its 2015 “Person of the Year.” This prestigious award was based on the following nomination, submitted to SFPE by Dr. Craig Beyler: John Lentini has been a motivating force in the reform of the […]
LEGISLATION: Source: Victor W. Weedn, MD, JD, AAFS 2015-16 President There has not been much on the Federal legislative front that is visible, but the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO) has been very active. The current makeup of the CFSO is: Matthew Gamette (ASCLD, Chair), Kim Collins (NAME, Vice Chair), Ken Martin (IAI, Treasurer), […]
Source: Kristy Kadash, PhD, Section Program Co-Chair As scientists, we appreciate that our fields are constantly evolving. New information leads to improved understanding of what evidence can tell us. And as scientists, we are accustomed to the process of peer and technical review before our results are presented. This provides an opportunity to double check […]
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 […]
Recapping the First Public OSAC Meetings: What is an SDO? Source: Reprinted from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): http://www.nist.gov/forensics/what-is-an-sdo.cfm. Feb. 16, Orlando, Fla. – Midway through the first day of a meeting devoted to public discussion of forensic science standards priorities, someone asked the question that was probably on many audience members’ minds. […]
Source: Samuel I. Brothers, BBA, Section Program Committee, Co-Chair The Digital & Multimedia Sciences (DMS) Section’s Program Committee has been working hard this year and we look forward to seeing everyone in Mickey’s hometown of Orlando! This year, our section will present one half-day workshop (#14) “On the Leading Edge of Forensic Science” scheduled for […]
Source: Steven Clark, PhD, Section Program Chair The theme of this year’s Academy meeting, Celebrating the Forensic Science Family, is an opportunity to recognize the efforts “family” members have made to the disciplines represented by the various sections in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences as well as the collaborative contributions members have made to […]