President's Message
Just a thought to ponder:

Have you ever really sat down and thought just how far forensics has come in the past 35 years? I was sent a table of contents from the Crime Laboratory Digest from January 1984, and my immediate reaction was one of awe. Packed GC columns, pre-DNA and gel separations were the articles listed. Today we have Rapid DNA, Genealogy, Familial Testing, GC-TOF, capillary columns and more. Where will we go next?
 
Symposium Update:

Your president-elect is hard at work finalizing the keynote speakers. The abstract review committee is looking at the abstracts, grading them, and deciding where they fit with this years’ theme. Once the committee completes the review, the plenary sessions and classes will be announced. You are in for an amazing symposium.

Don’t forget to reserve your hotel room using the hotel tab on the ascldsymposium.com website.

Registration for the Leadership Academy started on October 7 th and the seats are going fast, so don’t delay.

If you would like to be a part of the symposium planning committee, but you forgot to sign up to volunteer, contact President-Elect Erin Forry and join us on the next symposium planning committee on Friday, October 25 at 11:30EDT. She would be happy to send you the calendar invite!

For all of you, I wish you a Happy Boss’ Day on October 16 th .

For all of you golfers out there – October 17 th is National Mulligan Day – what a perfect day to go play golf!
 
Stay Happy and Healthy –

Brooke
Forensic Science International - SYNERGY
Forensic Science International: Synergy  and the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) have entered into a partnership where FSI: Synergy is a preferred journal of ASCLD. As a Gold Open Access publication, managers of forensic organizations will have unfettered access to articles that address issues of management and policy, forensic science and its applications, problems and solutions to improve the provision of science as an integral part of any criminal justice system. We both look forward to a successful and supportive relationship, one that makes life better for forensic scientists, managers, their clients, and the public at large.  


Looking Ahead
September – October – Fall 2019 ASCLD Leadership Academy – Austin, Texas
October 18, 2019 – Board of Directors Meeting – teleconference
October 26, 2019 – CFSO Planning Meeting - DC
November 15, 2019 – Board of Directors Meeting - teleconference
November 18, 2019 – ISO/TC 272 Planning Meeting - Singapore
January 31 – February 2, 2020 – Board of Directors Meeting - Raleigh/Durham, NC
March 29 – April 2, 2020 – ASCLD Symposium, Denver - CO
ASCLD is pleased to announce that the 2020 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.
 
Visit the 2020 ASCLD Symposium website at  https://www.ascldsymposium.com/
Weekly News and Resources
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) is pleased to release the NFLIS-Tox and NFLIS-MEC Brief on Toxicology Testing Practices for Opiates and Opioids Across the Nation .
Law Enforcement Efforts to Fight the Opioid Crisis

Convening Police Leaders, Multidisciplinary Partners, and Researchers to Identify Promising Practices and to Inform a Research Agenda

Community Research and Surveys

Scientists have demonstrated a way for police to quickly and safely test whether a baggie or other package contains illegal drugs without having to handle any suspicious contents directly. The new technique can limit the risk of accidental exposure to fentanyl and other highly potent drugs that can be dangerous if a small amount is accidentally inhaled.

Continue reading here .
Training
Handling Difficult and Disturbing Forensic Cases for
Corners and Medical Examiners

The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence has an upcoming webinar Handling Difficult and Disturbing Forensic cases for Coroners and Medical Examiners with Dr. Elizabeth Brondolo. The webinar is scheduled for October 17 th at 1:00 PM ET. It will apply to all personnel working in death investigations. The webinar will discuss the psychosocial demands of the work and the psychological process that can buffer the effects of the stress it can cause.
A2LA WPT – Upcoming training events

November 18-22, 2019, Frederick, MD

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. 

You can sign up for news on the symposium webpage , follow # FIUForensics for updates, and even visit the event page to set a registration reminder. 

Questions about attending, sponsoring or presenting at the symposium? Email forensic@fiu.edu . 
For additional information, please visit  https://iafs2020.com.au/

ANAB - Upcoming training events
visit www.anab.org


Forensic ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Internal Auditor Training
December 10-13, 2019, Emeryville, CA
 
Forensic ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Technical Assessor Training
October 27-30, 2019, Austin, TX
December 10-13, 2019, Mesa, AZ
  
Forensic Measurement Confidence MC100 (Web-based)
November 13-15, 2019 (11am-1pm ET)
 


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:


Forensic Research Committee
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...
Newly Identified Novels Psychoactive Substances

Recent Additions:
(click drug name for more information)
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 .
Opioid Legislation
Over the past several months, Congress has been developing new legislation aimed at addressing the nation’s opioid epidemic, providing additional funding, and building on the   Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) that became law in 2016. Congressional leaders announced an agreement on   H.R. 6 - the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act .   Continue reading...

Standards Corner


Click HERE to review standards available for comment.

OSAC News
October 2019 OSAC Standards Bulletin now available, click HERE
ASCLD Partnerships
Crime Lab Minute Sponsors
For More Information, Click the LOGO below:
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.
Newsletters
Donate to ASCLD
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.
The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors

65 Glen Road, Suite 123
Garner, NC 27529
Phone: 919.773.2044