Happy Monday to all -
This past Friday, June 21, we had our first ASCLD Board of Directors’ teleconference meeting with the new Board. Our telephonic Board meetings will take place on the third Friday of every month at 1pm EST, and all of our monthly reports are posted on the ASCLD website in the Members section (look under Files-Members-Monthly Committee Reports) in case you would like to see what the Board has been up to. If you would like to listen in on a conference call, please contact
asclddirector@gmail.com
for the call-in information.
I, along with President-Elect Erin Forry, Director Jennifer McNair, Executive Director Jean Stover, and the Kinsley team are in Denver this week starting the “Kick off” meeting for the 2020 Symposium. President-Elect Erin Forry has already hit the ground running with the initial planning stages. A special thank you to Jan Girten and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for agreeing to be our local committee hosts! Watch the CLM for updates on the 2020 Symposium.
“Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your work, and you have to inspire team-mates and customers.”
– Robin S. Sharma
Have a great week –
Brooke
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July 19, 2019
- Board of Directors Meeting - teleconference
August 16, 2019
- Board of Directors Meeting - teleconference
September 13-15, 2019
- Board of Directors Meeting - Utah (in person)
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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 July 2. 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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The OSAC Forensic Science Standards Board is Pleased to Announce the Sharon B. Nakich Award
In honor of our colleague, Sharon Nakich, who passed away in March after a short battle with cancer, the FSSB has developed a new peer-to-peer award that is being launched this year. Please consider nominating a fellow peer before the deadline below.
This award is an OSAC peer-to-peer award given annually that acknowledges a helpful attitude, kindness, teamwork or behind-the-scenes contributions to support the goals of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science. This award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to promote OSAC's mission through his/her support of OSAC. This nominee works diligently and tirelessly as a champion for OSAC, at times without recognition.
Read about the additional requirements and details
here
.
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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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Weekly News and Resources
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RECALL OF BD VACUTAINER FLUORIDE TUBES
FOR BLOOD ALCOHOL DETERMINATIONS
For more information, along with the catalog number and lot number of the product that was recalled, please
click here
.
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Community Research and Surveys
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Foresight
Will your laboratory be among the 2020 FORESIGHT Maximus award winners? Click
HERE
to download the LABRAT form and for more information.
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STRmix USA Workshop
July 9-12, 2019
Alexandria, VA
If interested in attending, please read and fill out the registration form, and return it to
rena.lawless@esr.cri.nz
by June 25, 2019.
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ANAB - Upcoming training events
September 10-13, 2019, Springfield, VA
December 10-13, 2019, Emeryville, CA
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)
July 23-25, 2019 (2-4pm ET)
August 28-29, 2019, Minneapolis, MN
September 12-13, 2019, San Jose, CA
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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Registration is now open for the NIJ/FTCOE:
When: July 18-19, 2019: 8am - 5pm ET
Where: Mariott Metro Center, Washington, D.C.
Click
here
for the agenda that includes a robust lineup of speakers and wide array of topics. Both in-person and virtual attendance registration is available.
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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
.
Bureau of Justice Assistance
Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program:
ODMAP Statewide Expansion and Response Grant
On behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) is releasing the ODMAP Statewide Expansion and Response Grant solicitation. BJA is sponsoring this initiative in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is part of a series of demonstration projects funded under the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program (COAP). These demonstration projects are designed to build capacity, foster cross-sector collaboration, and support innovation. Under this solicitation, up to six states will be selected for grant awards up to $700,000, each for a 24-month period.
Read the solicitation
HERE.
Applications due by June 27, 2019.
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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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May 2019 OSAC Standards Bulletin now available, click
HERE
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Crime Lab Minute Sponsors
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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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