With this solicitation, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) seeks proposals to strengthen the medical examiner/coroner (ME/C) system in the United States. NIJ’s ME/C program is a competitive program designed to support the enhancement of Medicolegal-Death-Investigation services, and increase the supply of forensic pathologists nationwide. Through this program, NIJ will support grants in two focus […]
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) seeks applications for funding of rigorous applied research on evidence-based tools, protocols, and policies for state, tribal, and local law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies that address drug trafficking, drug markets, and drug-related violence. The research focus of this solicitation is criminal investigation, prosecution, drug intelligence, and community […]
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: Teresa Ambrosius, ASB Secretariat The ASB is pleased to announce the publication of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) /ASB Standard 020, Standard for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a Laboratory’s Mixture Interpretation Protocol, First Edition, 2018. This standard is produced through ASB’s DNA Consensus Body in a consensus […]
Source: John P. Kenney, DDS, MS, Odontology Section Board of Directors Representative Forensic science, and odontology in particular, lost a great colleague, scientist, and mentor with the passing of Greg Golden of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, on August 21. Greg was a colleague, friend, and mentor to many in the odontology community. He served in various […]
The National Institute of Justice, a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), announced a new resource for medical examiners, coroners, and death investigators. A product of a Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services working group launched in March 2018, the resource page serves as a single […]
Source: Sabra Botch-Jones, MS, MA, HHRRC Laboratory and Analysis Protocols Chair The American Academy of Forensic Sciences Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Center (AAFS HHRRC) has seen incredible growth in support since its inauguration at the 2015 AAFS Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL. The Center seeks to utilize the assets of the AAFS to promote the […]
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: Mary C. McKiel, PhD, ASB Communications Liaison The Organization of Scientific Area Communities (OSAC), housed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), recently invited OSAC professional association representatives to share information on OSAC events with their members. The invitation highlighted the opportunity to comment on inclusion of two forensic related standards, published […]
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 […]
Source: Paul D. Emanovsky, PhD, Section Secretary Many thanks to all of the presenters and attendees who made the Seattle program successful this year. Please join me in congratulating our colleagues who received awards during the AAFS 70th Annual Scientific Meeting. The T. Dale Stewart Award: P. Willey was awarded the 2017 T. Dale Stewart […]
Source: Jonathan G. McGrath, PhD, MSFS The National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) drugs and crime portfolio supports research on law enforcement efforts to deter, investigate, prosecute, and address illegal drug trafficking, markets, and use. This FY2018 solicitation will seek investigator-initiated proposals to conduct applied research on evidence-based tools, protocols, and policies for state, local, and […]
Source: Lucy A. Davis, BHS, Chair, ASB Board of Directors Over the past year, I have had the honor of representing the AAFS on the OSAC Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB). My position on this Board is to represent the AAFS membership concerning the OSAC process and selection of standards to be placed on the […]
Source: Mary C. McKiel, PhD, Communications Liaison The AAFS Standards Board (ASB) welcomed more than 30 new voting members this month as a result of the ASB annual review of membership. In accord with their accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the ASB reviews membership at least annually to ensure that each of […]
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 […]