I realized this week that I only have a few more weeks to write the President’s message. I recommitted to spend that valuable time in a sprint to the finish. We start this week at the NIST conference on forensic science standards. ASCLD Board Members Erin Foray, Linda Jackson, and I will represent ASCLD. We are excited to visit with experts in standards, the accrediting bodies, and forensic scientists to discuss this important topic. This week we will also be visiting this many in Congress to discuss important legislation and appropriations for forensic science.
Over the last several weeks I have been with President-Elect Brooke Arnone and a group of approximately 30 forensic pathologists, pathology techs, and anthropologists helping our colleagues in Puerto Rico. There will be a press release early this week regarding the work the ASCLD/NAAG team accomplished during this trip. The group was able to accomplish over 122 autopsies and external examinations, finish 58 anthropology cases, and have meetings to move forward a number of projects. ASCLD is assisting in deploying a sexual assault kit tracking system, implementing a new LIMS system, outsourcing thousands of sexual assault kits and database samples, and assisting the quality system with assessments for the lab and medical examiner offices. I was able to meet with Governor Rossello, outgoing Secretary of Public Safety Pesquera, incoming Secretary of Public Safety Roman, FEMA officials, HHS representatives, and many other Puerto Rican government and laboratory officials. It was a very emotional and mentally exhausting week as we worked to ensure that families could be reunited with their deceased loved ones. Our thanks to our ASCLD Rapid DNA DVI task force for their assistance on this project. Mandy Sozier with SNA International volunteered her time to review eligible cases, and ANDE Corporation donated tens of thousands of dollars in instruments, reagents, and scientists to identify Jane/John Doe decedents. Thanks to the work of many volunteer pathologists, pathology techs, and forensic scientists, we were able to give many families some sense of closure. These volunteers were an inspiration to me. They were productive, cohesive, and had the hearts of servants and teachers. The Puerto Rican staff were eager to engage with our volunteers, and our volunteers were eager to fix equipment, provide new tools, and collaborate with their Puerto Rican colleagues. Our thanks to the many forensic science agencies that provided support for their employees to participate, and our deepest gratitude goes out to several volunteers that took their vacation leave to be able to participate in this mission. Many of the volunteers came because of a family connection to Puerto Rico, but everyone on the team seemed to leave with one. We heard stories during the week about reunifications of families with their lost loved ones. There were many expressions of thanks for our work on the island. I am happy to report that the laboratory is making great progress, and it is exciting to be involved in this inspiring work. Seeing the new instrument boxes in the hallways, hearing about new methods being deployed in the laboratory, and watching new laboratory leadership implement change has been inspiring. Some great news that came out of this visit was that due to the hard work being put in by the Puerto Rico NCF/ASCLD/NAAG team, NAME extended the accreditation for the medical examiner office to Fall 2020. We are extremely thankful to those of you volunteering your time to lead and work on Puerto Rico projects, writing assessments of their disciplines, technically reviewing casework, or providing training for their staff. I am proud to be part of the ASCLD family!
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OIC Vacancies
ASCLD has five (5) positions on the QIC. We anticipate that at least one vacancy may occur this fall. We are requesting that any interested ASCLD Member submit a letter of interest and a CV to the Board before the 15
th
of May. Application materials will be considered for any open ASCLD QIC position this year. Submission materials should be directed to the ASCLD office at
office@ascld.org
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If there are any concerns or questions regarding the membership applications, please contact Membership Chair Jennifer McNair at
jmcnair@utah.gov
.
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Please click
here
to review the proposed bylaw changes.
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OSAC QIC Impact Assessment Task Group
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The ASCLD reps on the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) Quality Infrastructure Committee's (QIC) Impact Assessment Task Group are seeking informal feedback from lab directors to assess the laboratory impact of the following document being considered for inclusion on the OSAC Registry of Standards. This survey should take less than 4 minutes to complete. For further information, and to review each proposed standard, click the appropriate link(s) below. If you have any questions about this process, please contact the Impact Assessment Task Group Chair, Rita C. Dyas @
Rita.Dyas@chandleraz.gov
NOTE: The formal public comment period closes on May 10. 2019, per the NIST OSAC website. The associated QIC survey will also close at that time.
Please participate; your feedback is important.
NOTE: The formal public comment period closes on June 1. 2019, per the NIST OSAC website. The associated QIC survey will also close at that time.
Please participate; your feedback is important.
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Drug Chemistry White Box Study
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The Kentucky State Police Forensic Laboratories and NIJ’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence are conducting a white box study for drug chemistry. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of common analytical schemes used for the identification of seized drugs in forensic laboratories, based on needs identified by the Organization of Scientific Area Committees Seized Drug Subcommittee (
LINK)
and the National Institute of Justice Technical Working Group for Controlled Substances (
LINK,
p.4). The results of the study will assist in establishing error rates for seized drugs analysis and, further, could provide empirical data from which laboratories can make informed policy decisions about the techniques they implement in casework.
We are currently seeking volunteer laboratories to participate in this important study.
Volunteer labs will be asked to analyze 2 sets of unknown samples. In the first set, the laboratory will be asked to perform a single, particular analytical technique on each sample. In the second set, the laboratory will be asked to perform a prescribed analytical scheme on different samples. The results will be statistically analyzed to compare the efficacy of individual analytical techniques and various analytical schemes.
Results for the study will be anonymized and reported in aggregate form. Neither the participant laboratories nor their individual responses will be identified in the final report.
If your laboratory is interested in participating in this unique opportunity, if you have questions, or if you would like additional information, please contact Jeremy Triplett, Drug Chemistry Supervisor at the Kentucky State Police Central Forensic Laboratory, at
jeremy.triplett@ky.gov
.
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May 17-19
- ASCLD Board of Directors Meeting in St. Louis
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BRING YOUR OWN SLIDES NIGHT IS BACK!
H
ave a unique problem or a novel solution you’ve encountered in your laboratory? Share it with everyone at the 2
nd
annual Bring Your Own Slides night on Wednesday of the ASCLD Symposium!
The Bring Your Own Slides Night is an informal opportunity for crime laboratory leadership to share information through short presentations and Q&A. Each talk should be 5-10 minutes and should cover a novel solution you found at your laboratory or present a problem you are trying to solve. Through relaxed Q&A, crime lab leadership can both learn from and help one another.
We need more presenters! If you’d like to present at this year’s Bring Your Own Slides, please email Jeremy Triplett at
jeremy.triplett@ky.gov
.
We
hope to see you there!!
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ASCLD is pleased to announce that the 2019 ASCLD Symposium website is live! Come explore the website and watch for upcoming events such as, the exhibitor floor plan launch, agenda development, hotel registration and the opening of the symposium registration.
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Weekly News and Resources
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Community Research and Surveys
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Foresight
Will your laboratory be among the 2019 FORESIGHT Maximus award winners? Click
HERE
to download the LABRAT form and for more information.
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CURRENT TRENDS IN FORENSICS & FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
MAY 13-17, 2019
Learn Through Live Access to Leaders in their Field!
Experience best practices in forensic toxicology such as sample preparation, method development, and forensic method validation. Learn from dedicated sessions on seized drug and trace analysis. Interact with the experts in a panel discussion at the close of each day. Learn from sponsored presentations introducing new products, services, and educational opportunities and take advantage of the week-long poster session! This online symposium will provide you with ready access to some of today’s leading researchers and practitioners without ever having to leave the laboratory.
Hosted by RTI and ForensicED. For more information, click
here
.
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ANAB - Upcoming training events
June 3-6, 2019, Milwaukee, WI
September 10-13, 2019, Springfield, VA
June 25-28, 2019, Huntington, WV
August 6-9, 2019, Minneapolis, MN
September 24-27, 2019, Largo, FL
December 9-13, 2019, Mesa, AZ
July 22-25, 2019 (11am-1pm ET)
April 30-May 2, 2019 (2-4pm ET)
July 23-25, 2019 (2-4pm ET)
August 28-29, 2019, Minneapolis, MN
Train the Director Webinar Series
Due to the overwhelming response to the first season, the FTCoE and ASCLD are pleased to bring you the latest collaborative installment in the
Train the Director Webinar Series
-
Quality Assurance in the Forensic Laboratory
This expansive series will highlight five different forensic disciplines: Digital Forensics, Fire Debris Analysis, Trace Analysis, Quality Assurance, and Crime Gun Intelligence. The subject matter experts that will be presenting on these topics are champions in their respective fields and will bring valuable information to the forensic community through their detailed and thorough research. The archived webinars are available by clicking the link above,
Digital Forensics Training
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice provides leadership and assistance to local criminal justice programs that improve and reinforce the nations' criminal justice system. Below is some information on digital forensics training opportunities (both classroom or virtual/online) and resources funded by BJA, including the Law Enforcement Cyber Center, and trainings organized by NW3C. NW3C is the training and technical assistance provider under the BJA Economic, High-Technology, White Collar, and Internet Crime Prevention National TTA Program. BJA has also encouraged online course offerings to save time/costs of travel, and included trainings for prosecutors, too. (Note: some NW3C courses sponsored apart from BJA funding may have a cost).
Click the links below for more information:
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Forensic Research Committee
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The goal of the Laboratories and Educators Alliance Program (LEAP) is to facilitate collaborative research between academia and forensic science laboratories. This joint effort between the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD) and the Council of Forensic Science Educators (COFSE) identifies forensic science needs and provides a platform for laboratories, researchers, and students to seek projects aligning with their mutual research capabilities.
Read more...
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Newly Identified Novels Psychoactive Substances
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Recent Additions:
(click drug name for more information)
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The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) at the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation, have received funding from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to develop systems for the early identification and notification of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in the drug supply in the United States. The goal of the program is the early identification of these substances in seized drug and forensic toxicology casework samples through various high resolution mass spectrometry retrospective data-mining and sample-mining techniques. Information about these programs can be found on our
website
.
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ASCLD's research efforts with respect to the OPIOiD crisis appear in the following article:
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BJA Updates
BJA Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program
BJA is awarding an expected $320 million to jurisdictions under BJA’s Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program (COAP), which provides financial and technical assistance to state, local and tribal jurisdictions to develop and implement efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by the opioid epidemic. Category 6 of this grant is most applicable to forensic science laboratories. Applications should focus on addressing the opioid epidemic (e.g. testing for drugs but not case management systems). Solicitations will be released Feb-March 2019, and can be viewed
here
.
The report from last year to give you some ideas for application are posted
here
.
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CDC Updates
CDC Announces Traceable Opioid Material Kits to Improve
Laboratory Detection of Synthetic Opioids
The CDC’s Division of Laboratory Sciences is pleased to announce the availability of the first of two
Traceable Opioid Material Kits
. The kits will increase the capacity of laboratories in the U.S. to identify current and emerging opioids that are contributing to our nation’s opioid crisis. The Fentanyl Analog Screening (FAS) Kit is available, effective February 1, from Cayman Chemical. CDC anticipates that the second kit, the Opioid CRM Kit, will be available for distribution from Cerilliant Corporation in March 2019. Both kits may be received free of charge.
· Can be from any sector — academic, public, or private.
· Must be located in the United States.
· Must comply with respective state and local regulations.
· Must submit requests directly to the respective vendor.
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DEA Updates
NFLIS Program for Toxicology and ME/Coroners Expansion
Emerging Trends Program
Reference Materials Program
Real-time Network
Fentanyl Signature Profiling Program
DEA Resources
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CBP Program Updates
The US Customs and Border Protection has alerted ASCLD to a monthly phone call about drugs being seen by CBP. As CBP provides a first line of defense for the United States, these calls present early warnings of what might be coming to state and local crime labs. This teleconference is called the Scientific Trends Online Network Exchange (STONE) and is organized through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) network.
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HIDTA Updates
ASCLD is currently forming stronger bonds with the HIDTA and specifically the HIDTA National Emerging Trends Initiative. A meeting is being organized in Cleveland in November to discuss ASCLD/HIDTA partnership on emerging drug data sharing.
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USDOT NHTSA Updates
NHTSA has a working group evaluating the existing
Recommendations for Toxicological Investigation of Drug-Impaired Driving and Motor Vehicle Fatalities
. The working group is going to put out the existing recommendations for public comment and possible federal endorsement, and work on related data collection issues.
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Click
HERE to review standards available for comment.
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April 2019 OSAC Standards Bulletin now available, click
HERE
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Crime Lab Minute Sponsors
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The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
65 Glen Road, Suite 123
Garner, NC 27529
Phone: 919.773.2044
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