Symposium Update:
We are trying something a little different this year. Our awards ceremony will be headlined by comedian Don Steinmetz.
Don Steinmetz is a Phoenix area standup comedian, comedy writer, screenwriter, public speaker and “mediocre” actor.
His standup comedy encompasses his life experiences as a 60-year-old baby boomer. He is a retired police officer with 35 years of service and currently a volunteer firefighter.
His comedy spans a variety of subjects from observational humor of people, aging in the new millennia, growing up in the 60s, being married twice, his 3 decades of raising kids, his forensic scientist wife and family, as well as his many unique experiences as a police officer and firefighter in Arizona.
He has performed at all the major clubs in Arizona, as well as many major clubs around the country. His comedy ranges from clean to adult friendly, with a fresh and unique point of view about people and life that audiences rarely see in standup comedy.
If you didn’t already select “yes” for attending the awards ceremony when you first registered, it isn’t too late. All you need to do is go back into your registration and update it, with “yes, I plan on attending the awards ceremony”. Come have some food, drinks, and laugh with your colleagues from around the globe. Did I mention it was free to attend?
More importantly, help us honor those who have been awarded recognition by their peers. Come see who walks away with the top honor from ASCLD, the prestigious Briggs White Award.
ASCLD Accreditation Initiative Update:
ASCLD established the ASCLD Domestic Accreditation Taskforce (ADATF) in 2018 to explore the development of a program to assist crime laboratories in obtaining accreditation. With assistance of pilot crime laboratories, a 14-step program was developed and named the ASCLD Accreditation Initiative (AAI).
In 2019, RTI International, through a Cooperative Agreement from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Office of Justice Programs and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, assisted ASCLD by providing funding to support the ASCLD Accreditation Initiative (AAI). Later that year, five crime laboratories were approved to the two-year mentorship program in the AAI and four are anticipated to apply for accreditation in 2020.
In addition to the mentorship program, the AAI developed the ASCLD Accreditation Toolkit to serve as a resource to crime laboratories seeking accreditation. With the assistance of RTI, ASCLD launched the toolkit on its website in early 2020.
Enjoy your week –
Brooke
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March 20, 2020
- Board of Directors Meeting - Telephonic (if necessary)
March 29
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April 2, 2020
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ASCLD Symposium, Denver - CO
April 2, 2020
- ASCLD Annual Business Meeting - ASCLD Symposium, Denver, CO
April 27 - May 2, 2020
- TC 272 Full Technical Committee Meeting - Copenhagen
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ASCLD is pleased to announce that registration for the 2020 symposium has opened. Come explore the website, make your hotel reservations, reserve your spot for the off-site event, sign up for classes, and read about your key note speakers.
The Hyatt is sold out. However, you will find information on the website regarding two overflow hotels within two blocks from the symposium location.
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Weekly News and Resources
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Community Research, Newsletters, and Surveys
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FY20 NIJ Research and Evaluation on Policing funding opportunity, closes April 13, 2020; relevant forensic science aspects highlighted below.
Solicitation excerpt:
The NIJ Policing Strategic Research Plan, 2017 – 2022 identifies three strategic priorities:
I. Promote and Support Research to Optimize Workforce Development for Officers and Civilian Personnel
This strategic priority represents NIJ’s commitment to support research that will identify
challenges and promote promising practices that will advance the policing workforce.
This
includes both sworn and civilian personnel; and those in support agencies including publicly funded forensic crime laboratories, medical examiner and coroner offices, and police forensic units; to include crime scene personnel and medicolegal death investigators.
Research areas under this strategic priority include, but are not limited, to:
- Recruitment, retention, and workforce development;
- Training and education, including the composition of an evidence-based curricula; and
- Training technologies designed to enhance performance.
II. Promote and Support Research on Policing Practices
This strategic priority supports NIJ’s efforts focusing on advancing policing practices and
strategies deployed by police organizations. Research areas under this strategic priority include,but are not limited, to:
- Person- or place-based practices and strategies intended to deter, disrupt, or prevent crime;
- Patrol practices;
- The application and timeliness of data and outputs from forensic science examinations, technologies, and innovations to support police investigations and systems-based strategies;1
- System and organizational characteristics that advance police performance;
- Officer decision-making practices;
- The adoption of technologies that assist in organizational performance; and
- Partnerships among police organizations or between police practitioners and
researchers.
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Laboratory managers and supervisors may be interested in getting their laboratory involved in this very important study. See attached for announcement from NIST and Noblis.
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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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The impact that stress has on a person’s mind and body can be dramatic, but the effects are amplified when the stressors involve violent, graphic, or traumatic material. Amy Jeanguenat and Andrew Levin are working to provide support to those affected by this vicarious trauma, with an emphasis on forensic scientists and first responders. Listen along as they discuss stress, mindfulness, and the future of resiliency in this episode of Just Science.
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Click
HERE to review standards available for comment.
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February 2020 OSAC Standards Bulletin now available, click
HERE
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Webinar Registration Page: ASCLD Train the Director Series - Marijuana Analysis in a New Frontier: Two State Laboratory Approaches
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The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education presents its 8th annual course in interpretive postmortem toxicology. This is an in-depth course which explores one of the most challenging areas of forensic science. Speakers will cover the complex range of considerations that must be applied in performing analysis, reporting and interpreting results in postmortem toxicological casework.
Factors from choice of samples, collection tubes, postmortem redistribution, analytical approach, drug-drug interactions and tolerance all play a part in providing accurate and reliable interpretive input for the pathologist or medical examiner. The course is suitable for both forensic toxicologists and forensic pathologists.
The course will address all aspects of the investigation of toxicological death, from the scene investigation, to the autopsy, design of analytical approach tailored to specific types of death, to the interpretation of the results, including assessment of postmortem redistribution. The course will review the forensic pharmacology and toxicology of the major drug categories found in toxic deaths, including opioids, CNS depressants and antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, stimulants, CO, CN H2S, as well as less frequently tested-for toxins such as metals, pesticides, and chemical warfare agents.
CME credits will be offered.
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72
nd
Annual Scientific Meeting of AAFS
February 17 – 22, 2020
Anaheim, CA
The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) will conduct its 72
nd
Annual Scientific Meeting February 17-22, 2020, in Anaheim, California.
Each February, the AAFS scientific meeting gathers together approximately 5,000 world-renowned professionals to present the most current information, research, and updates in their fields. More than 900 scientific papers, workshops, and other special sessions are presented. In addition, approximately 150 exhibitors showcase the cutting-edge technology and services of this ever-changing profession. The theme for the 2020 meeting is “Crossing Borders.”
The
Advance Program
may be viewed here -
https://www.aafs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020_AdvanceProgram.pdf
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9th Annual Forensic Science Symposium
June 2-4, 2020
Miami, Florida
Join more than 200 forensic science colleagues and aspiring scientists from Florida and beyond at the 9th Annual Forensic Science Symposium at the beautiful Florida International University Modesto A. Maidique Campus in Miami. The symposium will be held June 2-4, 2020.
The 2020 symposium will showcase topics like DNA, chemistry, toxicology, digital forensics and latent prints, and include expanded criminal justice subjects beyond the laboratory. Workshops and a poster session will be included. Registration will be $30 and free for students. Group registration for agencies is also available.
We are looking for innovative topics and dynamic speakers to share their expertise. A call for abstracts will be released soon.
Questions about attending, sponsoring or presenting at the symposium? Email
forensic@fiu.edu
.
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ANAB - Upcoming training events
April 28-May 1, 2020, San Antonio, TX
June 16-19, 2020, Minneapolis, MN
September 15-18, 2020, Washington, D.C.
November 3-6, 2020, Rancho Cordova, CA
March 10-13, 2020, Little Rock, AR
April 21-24, 2020, Rancho Cordova, CA
April 28-May 1, 2020, New York, NY
June 9-12, 2020, Milwaukee, WI
June 23-26, 2020, Towson, MD
November 16-19, 2020 Fort Worth, TX
March 16-19, 2020 (2-4pm ET)
June 24-25, 2020 (2-4pm ET)
March 3-5, 2020 (11am-1pm ET)
June 24-26, 2020 (11am-1pm ET)
April 7-9, 2020, Washington, D.C.
May 5-8, 2020, Washington, D.C.
August 4-7, 2020, St. Louis
May 19, 2020, Cary, NC
May 20-21, 2020, Cary, NC
April 8-9, 2020, Springfield, VA
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Crime Lab Minute Sponsors
For More Information, Click the LOGO below:
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A2LA WorkPlace Training (A2LA WPT) is a nonprofit organization established with a vision of being the leading management systems, conformity assessment, and measurement training company in the world. Our mission is to provide independent, world-class training programs that inspire confidence in the quality of service and acceptance of results from organizations.
Be a leader in your industry by building confidence and consistency in your product through A2LA WPT’s broad spectrum of instructor-led and online e-learning training courses. Move ahead of your competition by learning best practices on international standards, quality systems, technical tools, and soft skill
s.
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Donations to ASCLD can now be made online! This is a great way to honor the memory of a forensic colleague, to commemorate a life event for that person who has everything, or to otherwise assist in supporting the tireless efforts of the ASCLD organization in the pursuit of excellence in forensic science management. The donation page can be accessed by clicking
HERE
or by visiting the ASCLD website and clicking on "Donate to ASCLD" under the "Member Site" tab (this donation page is accessible even to non-members). Please consider donating and do share this information with anyone you think might be interested.
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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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