The next few weeks are spring break in many areas of the country. We are finally able to dust off the cobwebs of winter and the earth enjoys a fresh start. As an avid fruit farmer, I enjoy pruning back the trees and seeing the blossoms pop out all over the yard. A month ago, I was able to hear a fantastic talk during the plenary session of the AAFS meeting. This talk encouraged me to rethink, reframe, and refocus in my career. It caused me to think about where I need to prune, and what growth and blossoms might come from a new spring. I believe it is a talk that will be quoted for many years. I think it may even make some fabulous forensic science bumper stickers! Mr. Ted Hunt, Special Forensic Science Advisor to the United States Deputy Attorney General, delivered the talk. This talk is worth a few minutes of your time today. I have posted it in the President’s Corner today with permission from Mr. Hunt and the AAFS. I wanted to highlight a few things from this talk that stood out to me:
Diligence to the effort, dedication to the details, and devotion to the field mean that all of us, whatever our role in the system, must work together and rededicate ourselves to a common cause.
Don't let criticism make you stop listening to the critiques. Criticism can be many things. It can be painful, it can be annoying, it can be flat wrong, and completely unfair. But open and honest criticism can also be the catalyst for conversation, constructive change, and continual advancement.
Don’t ever let the fact that a method is
legally admissible
be the sole reason to say that it’s
scientifically acceptable
. Legal decisions must not lead to scientific satisfaction and professional stagnation. Instead, always try to improve upon what you do and how you do it — to make it more rigorous, more robust, and more reliable. The self-correcting nature of science is one of its greatest strengths; but great science doesn't happen without great scientists. Always strive to be a great scientist first. Great practice follows great practitioners.
Always remember that being a forensic scientist is a tremendous privilege, but it’s also a tremendous responsibility.
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PLENARY SESSION REMARKS
FORESIGHT CALCULATOR
ASCLD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OPENING
Jean Stover has announced her intention to retire as the ASCLD Executive Director. The ASCLD Board wishes to thank Jean for her years of service to the organization. Jean has been a consistent and experienced voice in Board discussions and deliberations. ASCLD has grown in many ways during her tenure as Executive Director. The Executive Director position will be open for applications until April 19, 2019. At that time, the ASCLD Board will deliberate on the applicants and invite selected candidates to interview during the ASCLD symposium. We hope to select the new Executive Director right after the symposium and determine a start date. Click
HERE for the posting.
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NIJ Funding Opportunities
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For ASCLD awareness, NIJ has recently posted several “Forthcoming Funding Opportunities”,
located
here
. Of specific interest to ASCLD, see:
NIJ Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime
Fiscal Year 2019
Click
here
for the solicitation
Applications Due: May 6, 2019
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 surveillance relevant to narcotics law enforcement, forensic science, and/or medicolegal death investigation.
DOJ has identified the FY2019 solicitation drug priorities as: 1) fentanyl and its illicit analogues, 2) methamphetamine, and 3) illegal marijuana markets.
This solicitation is competitive; therefore, NIJ staff cannot have individual conversations with prospective applicants. Any questions concerning the solicitation should be submitted to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service: 1-800-851-3420; TTY at 301-240-6310 (for hearing impaired only); email; fax 301-240-5830; or web chat. See also NIJ.gov's solicitation FAQ page.
Research and Evaluation in Safety, Health, and Wellness
in the Criminal Justice System
Fiscal Year 2019
With this solicitation, NIJ will seek applications for funding of multidisciplinary research projects addressing four topics:
- The cumulative effects of shift-work schedules, overtime, and secondary employment on the health, safety, performance, and quality of life of police or correctional officers.
- Enhancing strategies for officer interaction with individuals presenting with mental illness.
- Understanding the impact and management of stress, burnout, and vicarious trauma to advance resiliency of the forensic science workforce.
- The impact of undercover work on officer wellness.
All four topics, in varying degrees, lend themselves to a mixed-method approach involving a combination of the measurement of behavioral, psychological, biological, and physiological responses. Additionally, all four topics lend themselves to multidisciplinary research from behavioral science, neuroscience, operations research, and the social science communities.
NIJ Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime
Fiscal Year 2019
NIJ supports 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. This program furthers DOJ’s mission to combat the Nation's opioid epidemic, support prosecutors in their efforts, and reduce violent and other drug-related crime, through research that promotes effective law enforcement, court, and corrections responses to illegal drug markets (including diversion of legal drugs). The research focus of this solicitation is criminal investigation, prosecution, drug intelligence, and community surveillance relevant to narcotics law enforcement, forensic science, and/or medicolegal death investigation. DOJ has identified the FY2019 solicitation drug priorities as: 1) fentanyl and its illicit analogues, 2) methamphetamine, and 3) illegal marijuana markets.
Research and Evaluation on the Administration of Justice
Fiscal Year 2019
NIJ will seek applications for funding for investigator-initiated, interdisciplinary research and evaluation projects related to the administration of justice in three areas: (1) eyewitness evidence; (2) police deflection strategies; and (3) forensic science testimony. Applications that fall outside these three priority areas will not be considered. This solicitation aims to strengthen the knowledge base on these three priority areas, and to improve public safety by producing findings with practical implications. It supports the U.S. Department of Justice’s priorities of reducing violent crime and enhancing investigations and prosecutions.
Research and Evaluation on Policing
Fiscal Year 2019
With this solicitation, NIJ will seek applications for funding for investigator-initiated, randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies of approaches to the challenges of policing in the United States that address the strategic priorities and objectives identified in
NIJ’s Policing Strategic Research Plan, 2017-2022
As usual, all NIJ open solicitations will be posted
here
.
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March 22, 2019
- ASCLD Board of Directors Meeting (rescheduled teleconference)
April 19, 2019
- ASCLD Board of Directors Meeting (teleconference)
May 17-19
- ASCLD Board of Directors Meeting in St. Louis
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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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ANAB - Upcoming training events
Forensic ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Internal Auditor Training
June 3-6, 2019, Milwaukee, WI
September 10-13, 2019, Springfield, VA
Forensic ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Assessor Training (Testing)
June 25-28, 2019, Huntington, WV
August 6-9, 2019, Minneapolis, MN
Root Cause Analysis for Forensic Service Providers (Web-based)
April 29-May 2, 2019 (11am-1pm ET)
Overview of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and Forensic AR 3125
May 1-2, 2019, McLean, VA
Forensic Measurement Confidence MC100 (Web-based)
April 30-May 2, 2019 (2-4pm ET)
ISO/IEC 17020 and Audit Preparation for Forensic Agencies
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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International Association for Chemical Testing
This organization has been promoting professionalism in the field of chemical tests for alcohol and other drugs in relation to traffic safety since 1988. The I.A.C.T. is an organization composed primarily of employees of governmental agencies involved in chemical testing in relation to traffic safety. They hold an annual conference at various locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Visit their website at
www.iactonline.org
for more information.
Upcoming Conferences
March 31 - April 5, 2019 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
April 19 - 24, 2020 in Tucson, Arizona
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International Confrerence on Novel Psychoactive Substances
We are pleased to announce that the VI International Conference on Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) will be held on 8th – 9th April 2019 at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. The series, which started in Budapest in 2012, aims to share knowledge and strengthen collaboration on NPS among multidisciplinary professionals at the international level. The conference is jointly organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), University of Hertfordshire, University of Maastricht. Don’t miss this important international insight into worldwide trends and issues in NPS.
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A Forensic Laboratory Counsel Training will be held on April 10-12, 2019 in Richmond, Virginia. The purpose of this training is to bring together forensic laboratory counsel from across the country to discuss the numerous contemporary issues confronting their laboratories. Click
HERE
more details!
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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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March 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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