Introduction

ASCLD Train the Director – Quality Assurance: Beyond Accreditation

ASCLD Train the Director – Quality Assurance: Beyond Accreditation

← Back to Series

This webinar originally occurred on January 9, 2020
Duration: 1.5 hours

Overview

Accreditation and quality assurance are two terms that are commonly used within the forensic science community. Many forensic laboratory mission statements incorporate the word quality in some capacity. Some forensic science service providers have voluntarily participated in accreditation for decades, while others have just begun designing quality management systems and are on a path to becoming accredited. Laboratory accreditation is supported by many organizations, including ASCLD, the National Commission on Forensic Science, and the 2009 Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward report by the National Research Council.

In this webinar, the presenter discussed quality and accreditation, how they complement each other, and the ASCLD Accreditation Roadmap and Toolkit.  She also discussed the concepts of organizational transformation, organizational culture, and the cultivation of a quality culture in the laboratory. Lastly, she reviewed the various quality initiatives in forensic science, including ISO TC 272, the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science, and the scientific and technical working groups (SWG/TWG).

Detailed Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the difference between quality and accreditation.
  2. Elaborate on the phrase “quality culture” and identify strategies to create one.
  3. Describe the accrediting bodies, ISO TC 272, SWGs/TWGs, OSAC and how they collectively may improve quality in forensic science.


Presenter

  • Erin Forry | ASCLD President-Elect

Funding for this Forensic Technology Center of Excellence webinar has been provided by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this webinar are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Contact us at ForensicCOE@rti.org with any questions and subscribe to our newsletter for notifications.


Related Content

A Landscape Study of Computed Tomography Scanners for Postmortem Applications

Date December 2023 Overview Advanced imaging technologies help medicolegal death investigation (MDI) personnel assess cause of death (COD) and manner of death (MOD). The Medical Examiner and Coroner (MEC) community utilize postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) to obtain imaging data to…

FLN-TWG: A Roadmap to Improve Research and Technology Transition in Forensic Science

← Back to FLN-TWG Main Page  Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group (FLN-TWG) The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in partnership with the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International, formed the Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group…

Data Exchange Practices of Medicolegal Death Investigation

Date December 2022 Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ)-in partnership with its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International and the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-convened a virtual Medicolegal Death…