ASCLD

03/17/2026

03/17/2026

The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has released the FY25 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) for the State Formula Program and the Local Formula Program.

While Byrne JAG is typically a funding program for law enforcement agencies, funding is available for forensic science service providers and forensic science medical providers (MECs). The funding is generally provided to the State or Local Administering Agency, so forensic science providers should consult with local and state agencies to determine the best way to apply directly to BJA or through the local or state administering agency that is the passthrough organization for the funding. Funding is allocated based on a statutory formula that considers population and violent crime statistics, and jurisdictions have broad flexibility in how funds are used across the justice system (including for forensics).

One specific purpose area is DNA Testing of Evidentiary Materials and Uploading DNA Profiles to a Database: If JAG Program funds are to be used for DNA testing of evidentiary materials, any resulting eligible DNA profiles must be uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the national DNA database operated by the FBI, by a government DNA lab with access to CODIS. JAG funds may not be used for Rapid DNA testing of evidentiary material (e.g., crime scene samples, sexual assault kits) because the FBI has not authorized results of this testing for upload to CODIS. No DNA profiles generated with JAG funding may be entered into any other nongovernmental DNA database without prior written approval from BJA. Additionally, award recipients utilizing JAG funds for forensic genealogy testing must adhere to the DOJ Interim Policy Forensic Genealogical DNA Analysis and Searching available at: https://buff.ly/ZyJ2K0C. For more information about DNA testing as it pertains to JAG, please refer to the JAG FAQs.

Details on the FY 2025 solicitations are below (DEADLINES ARE VERY TIGHT):

FY25 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) - State Formula
· Application Deadlines:
· Grants.gov: April 7, 2026
· JustGrants: April 14, 2026
· View the solicitation here: https://buff.ly/vmk8IaB

FY25 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) - Local Formula
· Application Deadlines:
· Grants.gov: April 21, 2026
· JustGrants: April 28, 2026
· View the solicitation here: https://buff.ly/8VL7asK

03/17/2026

The ASCLD Forensic Research Committee (FRC) Collaboration Hub would like to announce a new submission for Researchers Seeking Practitioners. Cedar Crest College has submitted a new Collaboration Request for a short survey to capture your and other practitioners’ thoughts and insights on the types of instruments your lab uses, the challenges you face, and your expectations for new hires in operating and understanding instrumentation used in forensic science. The survey will take less than 10 minutes and answers will be submitted anonymously. The survey will close on 15 April 2026.
The survey can be accessed https://buff.ly/KJy05g0
Any questions about the survey can be directed to Tabrette@cedarcrest.edu or Andra.Lewis@cedarcrest.edu

The ASCLD FRC Collaboration Hub is a valuable resource to connect researchers and practitioners in order to foster communication and cooperation between forensic researcher and practitioner communities. For more information visit the ASCLD FRC website: https://buff.ly/QoUWuf8.

The ASCLD Forensic Research Committee seeks to advance the core science of forensics by closing technology gaps and enabling future forensic technologies.

03/16/2026

The ASCLD Forensic Research Committee (FRC) Collaboration Hub would like to announce a new submission for Researchers Seeking Practitioners. Dr. Nicole Richetelli of Noblis has submitted a new Collaboration Request for a short survey to capture your and other practitioners’ thoughts and insights on Forensic Hand Detail Image Comparisons: State of the Discipline. The survey will close on May 16 2026. The survey can be accessed Here: https://buff.ly/ZC7Fvwz .
Any questions about the survey can be directed hand@noblis.org.

The ASCLD FRC Collaboration Hub is a valuable resource to connect researchers and practitioners in order to foster communication and cooperation between forensic researcher and practitioner communities. For more information visit the ASCLD FRC website: https://buff.ly/QoUWuf8

The ASCLD Forensic Research Committee seeks to advance the core science of forensics by closing technology gaps and enabling future forensic technologies.

03/16/2026

The March ASCLD FRC Lightning Talk will be presented on Thursday, March 19th at 1 pm EST. It will feature Mark Frisch and Michael Van Linn speaking about "The Analytical Techniques used for Analysis and the Synthetics Derived from the Alkaloids."

To register: https://ucdaviscpe.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nPAebRTQTDa99hcyyLmP8g

03/13/2026

REGISTER NOW: https://buff.ly/R3a3LpU

03/12/2026

https://buff.ly/tyFzat8

03/12/2026

ASCLD Pre-Conference Excursions
Sign up soon! Excursions that are underfilled will be cancelled.
REGISTER NOW: https://buff.ly/R3a3LpU
EXCURSIONS: https://buff.ly/6rRoRNW

03/11/2026

REGISTER NOW: https://buff.ly/rFzXYt3

03/10/2026

The ASCLD Forensic Research Committee (FRC) Collaboration Hub invites participation in a new initiative by Anna Heavey from Curtin University. She seeks to assess a standardized system for classifying quality issues in forensic science. Experienced professionals in identifying and managing forensic quality issues—such as quality managers, analysts, managers, directors, and regulatory professionals—are encouraged to join. Participants will use an online platform (Qualtrics) to categorize hypothetical scenarios and provide feedback. The process takes 20 minutes to an hour, depending on expertise, and can be done in multiple sessions. Access the platform and introductory video here: https://buff.ly/0eRhqYf. The study runs from March 9 to April 30, 2026.

Discover the ASCLD FRC Collaboration Hub, a key resource for fostering communication between researchers and practitioners. For more details, visit: https://buff.ly/QoUWuf8