Source: Nancy J. Jackson, Accreditation & Outreach Coordinator Pursuant to the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) Policies and Procedures, Policy 1.4 Scope of Accreditation, FEPAC promotes academic quality through the formal accreditation of forensic science programs in the United States and abroad. FEPAC accredits forensic science education programs that lead to a bachelor’s […]
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: 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: C. Ken Williams, MS, JD, Criminalistics Section Board of Directors Representative The Department of Justice extended an invitation to the AAFS to attend the 13th Meeting of the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS) in Washington, DC, on April 10-11. As the Criminalistics Section Board of Directors Representative, I was given the privilege of […]
On Friday, April 14, 2017, Board of Directors member C. Ken Williams spoke at a presentation of the Forensics Uncut student group at Virginia Commonwealth University. Ken spoke to the group about his personal journey as a person of color in the field of forensic science and the role that the American Academy of Forensic […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, AAFS President As the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS) sunsets, AAFS members who serve as NCFS members, invited presenters, and interested attendees met in Washington, DC, on April 10-11, 2017. Board of Director Representative C. Ken Williams and Past President Carol Henderson were among the invited presenters at […]
Source: AAFS Board of Directors The American Academy of Forensic Sciences wholeheartedly commends its membership who provided expertise, wisdom, and guidance to the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS) since its 2013 origin. There are 14 Commission Members, 3 Ex-Officio Members, and numerous sub-committee members who are also members of the Academy and the work […]
Sources: Stephanie Domitrovich, JD, PhD, Section Chair, and Pam King, JD, Section Secretary Jurisprudence Section members have been very busy around the country participating in training others in the forensic science community on a variety of topics, as well as contributing to the evolution of forensic science in which we are all involved. Following are […]
The Federal Register Notice for the National Commission on Forensic Science Digital Evidence Commissioner vacancy was posted on April 18, 2016. Application instructions are included in the notice and should be submitted by Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Additional information may be found here: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/04/18/2016-08926/national-commission-on-forensic-science-solicitation-of-applications-for-additional-commission.
At the National Commission on Forensic Science, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates announced AAFS Past President Victor Weedn’s appointment to the Office of the Deputy Attorney General. Congratulations, Dr, Weedn! For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/deputy-attorney-general-sally-q-yates-delivers-remarks-ninth-meeting-national-commission.
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 […]
We regret to inform you that Workshop 13 National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS) — Status Report on Work Products and Issues Under Consideration, scheduled to be held during the 2016 AAFS 68th Annual Scientific Meeting, has been cancelled. Current registrants for Workshop 13 will be given the opportunity to make alternative selections or to receive a […]
Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations Sources: Victor Weedn, MD, JD, CFSO Liaison and Beth Lavach, CFSO Advocate The primary news concerning forensic science reform legislation is that it appears that there is more significant discussion than in the past between the Republicans and Democrats and between the House and the Senate. This would suggest that […]
Source: Victor W. Weedn, MD, JD, 2015-16 AAFS President Gearing up to become a Standards Development Organization (SDO) is dominating the myriad of activities of the Academy, but appropriately so. Standards-setting is a dominant activity in the forensic sciences community and the Academy has the strength and depth to step into a critical supportive role […]
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 […]
Source: Julie A. Howe, MBA, 2016 Annual Meeting Program Co-Chair This is an exciting and challenging time for forensic science as substantive changes are being proposed for all disciplines with the formation of the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSACs). […]