This week finds me traveling to a meeting in Washington, put together by the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO), to discuss the future of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) and standards development in Forensic Science. The CFSO representatives, along with 1 or 2 additional representatives from each of the participating members of CFSO, will be present. We will also be joined by speakers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
This meeting will allow the participants to hear updates regarding the legislative process, the future of OSAC and standards development, and will also give us an opportunity to discuss how our groups can all work together.
ASCLD WEBSITE:
The latest position statement from ASCLD has been posted. To read the document, go to the ASCLD Policy Library. Thank you to Past President Ray Wickenheiser for writing the document and the Member Resource Committee for your edits.
The 2019-2020 Strategic Plan has also been posted. You can find this document under ASCLD Foundational Documents.
As a reminder, all board reports are available for your reading pleasure and can be found in the ASCLD File Repository, under the folder “Monthly Committee Reports”. You must log in with your member information to view these reports.
Leadership Academy information has been updated to include the most recent information regarding deadlines for the 2020 Leadership Academy. Stayed tuned for new and exciting information regarding the Leadership Academy.
Halloween Fun Facts (National Retail Federation and the CNN Library):
More than 172 million Americans will celebrate Halloween this year.
Total spending will reach $8.8 billion.
Jack-o'-lanterns are the symbol of Halloween. People in Ireland and Scotland originally used beets or turnips as lanterns on Halloween.
Trick-or-treating began in areas of the United Kingdom and Ireland. People went house-to-house "souling" - asking for small breads called "soul cakes" in exchange for prayer.
Adults also went door-to-door asking for food and drinks in exchange for a song or dance.
Whatever you might choose to do for Halloween, stay safe, don’t eat too much candy, and realize that Friday is already November!
Have a “spook-tacular” week - Brooke
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Forensic Science International - SYNERGY
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T
ouch DNA in forensic science: the use of laboratory-created eccrine fingerprints to quantify DNA loss
Jessica Tang, Jennifer Ostrander, Ray Wickenheiser, Ashley Hall
Forensic Science International: Synergy
October 23, 2019
Abstract
Touch samples typically contain a limited quantity of DNA, which can be further reduced during collection and analysis. It is not clear, however, at which point(s) the majority of the DNA is lost because there is not a reliable positive control to track the quantity of DNA through the analysis procedures. To take the first step in bridging this gap, we established a set of laboratory-created eccrine, or mock, fingerprints containing known quantities of DNA. Next, we defined a set of process controls to quantify loss at key fail points in the collection/extraction procedures, analyzing a total of 1200 mock fingerprints deposited on four different surfaces. We quantified DNA loss to the surface, the swab and at extraction, completing the evaluation with ANOVA. With better understanding of DNA yields and the mechanisms of loss, targeted process improvements will bring touch DNA samples into even more routine use with standardized, optimized procedures.
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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.
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October 26, 2019
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CFSO Planning Meeting - DC
November 15, 2019
– Board of Directors Meeting - teleconference
November 18, 2019
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ISO/TC 272 Planning Meeting - Singapore
January 31
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February 2, 2020
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Board of Directors Meeting - Raleigh/Durham, NC
March 29
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April 2, 2020
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ASCLD Symposium, Denver - CO
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ASCLD is pleased to announce that the 2020 ASCLD Symposium website now has more links open including the hotel registration and exhibitor floor plan! Come explore the website, make your hotel reservations because the room block fills quickly, and watch for upcoming events such as, agenda development and the opening of the symposium registration.
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Weekly News and Resources
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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
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Community Research and Surveys
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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.
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Evidence Management Conference Webcast
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A2LA WPT – Upcoming training events
November 18-22, 2019, Frederick, MD
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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
[email protected]
.
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ANAB - Upcoming training events
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:
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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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Click
HERE to review standards available for comment.
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October 2019 OSAC Standards Bulletin now available, click
HERE
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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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