Introduction

The State of Standard Development & Tools for Assessing and Implementing Standards

The State of Standard Development & Tools for Assessing and Implementing Standards

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This webinar originally occurred on January 17, 2023
Duration: 1.5 hours

Overview

This webinar will introduce attendees to the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) Registry of Standards, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) on Forensic Science, and the Academy Standards Board (ASB). Attendees will learn about forensic science standard development in the national and international space as well as standard implementation tools provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).

This webinar will consist of the following presentations: 1) OSAC Registry Standards Implementation Update and New York State Police OSAC Standards Implementation Experience; 2) Building International Consensus: A Glimpse Inside the ISO TC 272 on Forensic Sciences; and 3) A Brief History and Status of the ASB and Forensic Standards. After the presentations, a roundtable discussion will commence in which a variety of speakers discuss their agencies’ approaches and experiences with implementation of standards.

Detailed Learning Objectives

  1. Attendees will learn about the status and development of forensic science standards in the national and international space.
  2. Attendees will learn how various laboratories implemented standards and what tools assisted with the implementation process.
  3. Attendees will understand the importance of participating in standards development and how to get involved.

Presenters

  • Ray Wickenheiser, Ph.D. | Director, New York State Police Crime Laboratory System
  • Erin Forry | Quality Manager, Boston Police Department Crime Laboratory
  • Teresa Ambrosius | Secretariat, Academy Standards Board 

Roundtable Discussion

  • Jody Wolf, M.S., M.B.A. | Crime Lab Administrator, Phoenix Police Department Laboratory Services Bureau
  • Eva M.L. King, M.S. | Quality Assurance Director, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories
  • Reta Newman | Laboratory Director, Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory
  • Peter Stout, Ph.D. | CEO and President, Houston Forensic Science Center

OSAC Registry Standards Implementation Update and the New York State Police OSAC Standards Implementation Experience 

This presentation will include background on the current state of the OSAC Registry of Standards and the implementation of standards experience in the New York State Police Crime Laboratory System. Application of implementation tools provided by the partnership between National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) will also be discussed. 

Presenter: Ray Wickenheiser, Ph.D. | Director, New York State Police Crime Laboratory System


Building International Consensus: A Glimpse Inside the ISO TC 272 on Forensic Sciences

This presentation will briefly explain the process of standards development at ISO, the ISO TC (TC 272) on Forensic Science, and how the United States participates in this process. This presentation will review the standards that have already been published by TC 272, the status of standards that TC 272 is currently working on, and how these standards impact forensic service providers globally.

Presenter: Erin Forry | Quality Manager, Boston Police Department Crime Laboratory


A Brief History and Status of the ASB and Forensic Standards

This presentation will provide information on the history of the ASB, the process of producing American National Standards, why going through the process of producing accredited American National Standards is important, and the current status of the ASB. This presentation will also outline how the webinar participants can get involved in commenting on ASB documents, and, if interested, in how to get more involved in writing ASB documents.

Presenter: Teresa Ambrosius | Secretariat, Academy Standards Board 


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.


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