President's Message
Last week the DOJ announced an Interim Policy on Forensic Genetic Genealogical DNA Analysis and Searching. Since then, I have received phone calls and emails stating that ASCLD should have announced this information to its membership ahead of others. ASCLD enjoys a positive working relationship with DOJ and while the ASCLD Executive Board of Directors was provided this information in advance of the announcement, we were also directed that it could not be made public until the DOJ announced it at the 2019 ISHI meeting. ASCLD’s delay in sharing the information shortly after the announcement was inadvertent and due to John Byrd and I attending to ASCLD business on our annual site visits of prospective symposium locations. The annual site visits are planned well in advance and we were in the middle of meetings when the announcement was made. I sincerely apologize to the membership for the delay and you have the ASCLD Board of Director’s commitment to coordinate the sharing of information in a timely manner and to the best of our ability. We are an organization of volunteers. If you would like to assist with the Communication Committee or any of our member committees, please let either John or I know. We welcome your assistance!

For those of you who may have missed the email with the link to the policy, I am including the link again.


The ASCLD Board of Directors are pleased with the guidelines that have been presented and look forward to working with DOJ to assist in the development of a permanent policy on this issue.

Symposium Update:

The 2020 Level 1 Leadership Academy is opening for registration on Monday, October 7, 2019. Don’t delay. Get your spot reserved. The class is open to 50 participants. Go to the ASCLD.org website OR the ascldsymposium.com website for more Leadership Academy information and to see the information regarding class dates and instructors.

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success .” – Henry Ford

I hope you all have a great week as we go into October!!

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.  


What can you do for ASCLD?

The Membership Committee will be conducting their annual membership drive coinciding with the National Forensic Science week (September 15-21, 2019). The Membership Committee is reaching out to each current member via email, asking them to promote ASCLD membership to eligible candidates within their organizations. In an effort to capitalize on the power of social media, the committee is asking current members to post on Facebook or tweet on Twitter, during National Forensic Science Week, the benefits of ASCLD membership (e.g. networking, information exchange, access to resources, news and updates). Please use #ASCLDMembership2019 and tag partner forensic science organizations so that we may significantly expand the membership drive reach.
Looking Ahead
September – October – Fall 2019 ASCLD Leadership Academy – Austin, Texas
October 18, 2019 – Board of Directors Meeting – teleconference
November 15, 2019 – Board of Directors Meeting - teleconference
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
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
Training
A2LA WPT – Upcoming training events
October 9-10, 2019, Frederick, MD
 
November 18-22, 2019, Frederick, MD
 
September 30, 2019, Grayslake, IL
 



October 1-2, 2019, Grayslake, IL
 
October 3-4, 2019, Grayslake, IL
October 17-18, 2019, Charlotte, NC

September 26, 2019, Denver, CO
October 11, 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 [email protected]
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
August 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