Source: Mary C. McKiel, PhD, ASB Communications Liaison Officer On August 30 of this year, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued a Request For Information (RFI) on potential organizational changes to the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC). NIST, along with the Department of Justice, established OSAC to facilitate development of sound […]
It is with great fondness and reverence that we remember AAFS Founding Member and Past President, colleague and friend, Dr. Kurt M. Dubowski, who passed away Monday, October 23, in Oklahoma City at the age of 95. Dr. Dubowski was designated as an R.B.H. Gradwohl Laureate in 2011, the most prestigious honor of the American Academy […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, 2017-18 President In 2016, roughly 64,000 people in the United States died from drug overdoses, more than triple the number from 2000. Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and its novel analogs have played a major part in this public health crisis. To address this epidemic, law enforcement and public […]
Source: Noelle J. Umback, PhD, Section Program Co-Chair The theme of the 2018 AAFS meeting is Science Matters. The general public often believes that when something scientific is reported, it has become fact. However, we know that change is at the heart of the Scientific Method. Experimentation may answer some questions about a particular biological […]
Source: Steven C. Clark, PhD, Section Secretary Another summer is history, and fall is here. Now is the time to make your plans to attend the 2018 AAFS Annual Scientific Meeting in Seattle, WA. Hotels around the Washington State Convention Center fill up quickly because Seattle is such a great meeting site! There are […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, 2017-18 President Scientific evidence is a powerful tool in the search for the truth and the pursuit of justice. As forensic scientists, we have a duty to ensure our results and opinions are valid and reliable. Standards and best practice guidelines provide the foundation for our work and […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, AAFS President The following statement has been submitted in response to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) request for input on the future structure of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC). STATEMENT OF THE AAFS BOARD OF DIRECTORS The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Board […]
Source: Mary C. McKiel, PhD, Communications Liaison Officer Not all standards are developed in a process that requires consensus, balance, openness, and due process. For example, industry standards, consortia standards, and regulatory standards are developed through their own unique documented procedures and are incredibly useful for their intended purposes. However, in the larger United States and […]
Source: Mary C. McKiel, PhD, Communications Liaison Officer The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a Request for Information (RFI) via the United States Federal Register to gather feedback about the structure, function, and mission of OSAC 2.0. As you may recall, NIST has been clear since the beginning of OSAC three […]
Source: Pamela A.W. King, JD, Section Secretary Many section members know that Fellow Ted Hunt has left his long-time position as a prosecutor in Kansas and was recently appointed to lead the new Forensic Science Working Group (FSWG) for the Department of Justice. This Working Group will be tasked with the responsibility of making uniform […]
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: Mary C. McKiel, PhD, ASB Communication Liaison This is the first in a series of articles that will delve into the inner workings of standards development that are underway through the American Academy of Forensic Sciences’ subsidiary, the Academy Standards Board (ASB). The purpose is to share information with the broader AAFS community on […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, 2017-18 President As President of the Academy, I have had the honor of talking to a wide variety of audiences about forensic science and the mission of the Academy. I often describe the greatest strengths of the Academy as the extensive knowledge base of our members and their level […]
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: Teresa Ambrosius, ASB Technical Coordinator Announcement: The public comment period has opened for the following four AAFS Standards Board (ASB) documents. The two documents shown below were posted in the May 19, 2017, issue of the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI’s) Standards Action (the comment deadline is July 3, 2017): ASB Standard 011, Scope […]
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: Mary McKiel, PhD The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Standards Board (ASB) standardization work began a little more than a year ago with the process of establishing and populating Consensus Bodies (CB) to conduct the work of standards writing. Since that time, progress has been outstanding. There are 33 standardization projects well underway […]
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 […]