ASCLD

07/22/2025

Crime laboratories are struggling to keep up with surging demand for advanced forensic testing, leading to case backlogs in all disciplines. Proposed federal funding cuts could further delay justice. Learn more:

As the need for forensic testing grows, state and local crime labs may face steep federal funding cuts that could further delay justice for victims, derail criminal investigations and overwhelm already backlogged systems.

07/12/2025

Have an idea or suggestion for a future Lightning Talk? We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s a topic you’re passionate about, a project you’ve contributed to, or a fresh insight worth sharing, we welcome your input. Forensic research topics and presenter suggestions are encouraged. Submit your ideas to ascldfrc@gmail.com and help shape the next round of Lightning Talks!

07/09/2025

One week away! Register now!

The ASCLD Training and Education Committee is proud to announce the Train the Directors Series, which focuses on a variety of topics of interest to ASCLD membership.

Topic: ASCLD Leadership Academy & NFSA Certified Forensic Manager Program

Date: Wednesday, July 16th at 1:00pm EST

Featured Speakers: Jeremy Triplett (ASCLD Leadership Academy Coordinator), Ben Swanholm (National Forensic Science Academy (NFSA) President)

Join us for a FREE 1-Hour Webinar where we explore the essential role of leadership training in advancing your career in forensic science. Learn how the ASCLD Leadership Academy and the NFSA Certified Forensic Manager Program can empower you with the skills needed to thrive in leadership roles. https://buff.ly/XNGnpLI

07/08/2025

The Forensic Research Committee is pleased to announce the release of the FRC Bulletin # 19 with information on the FRC Research Awards, Lightning Talks, LEAP, the FRC Collaboration Hub, and the Evaluation/Validation Repository. Check out https://buff.ly/k4e0kiv for exciting developments from the FRC!

07/07/2025

The ASCLD Forensic Research Committee (FRC) is proud to announce a new submission to the Validation and Evaluation Repository. As you may already know, the purpose of this FRC initiative is to create a central repository of forensic validations and evaluations. ASCLD hopes that this repository will foster information sharing and promote collaboration with the forensic science community.

The Maryland State Police Crime Laboratory has submitted a new validation report highlighting a STRmix v2.9.1 Validation and an Estimation of STRmix™ V2.9.1 parameters utilizing GlobalFiler™ amplification and separation using 3500 CE instrumentation followed by analysis of the raw data performed with GeneMapper® ID-X V1.6.

For more information about this validation or other validations or evaluations within the repository, please check out https://buff.ly/b3aIScP

Please consider submitting information about your lab’s validations or evaluations to the repository. Information could include basic information such as validation/evaluation title, lab name, and point of contact information (which enables other forensic scientists to contact you with questions) or additional information such as a short validation or evaluation summary or even a full validation or evaluation report. By sharing this information, you are supporting other laboratories that wish to expand their forensic capabilities!

07/03/2025

The ASCLD Training and Education Committee is proud to announce the Train the Directors Series, which focuses on a variety of topics of interest to ASCLD membership.

Topic: ASCLD Leadership Academy & NFSA Certified Forensic Manager Program

Date: Wednesday, July 16th at 1:00pm EST

Featured Speakers: Jeremy Triplett (ASCLD Leadership Academy Coordinator), Ben Swanholm (National Forensic Science Academy (NFSA) President)

Join us for a FREE 1-Hour Webinar where we explore the essential role of leadership training in advancing your career in forensic science. Learn how the ASCLD Leadership Academy and the NFSA Certified Forensic Manager Program can empower you with the skills needed to thrive in leadership roles. https://buff.ly/XNGnpLI

06/27/2025

The ASCLD Forensic Research Committee is proud to announce the next episode of a virtual “Lightning Talks” series to highlight new and emerging research in all areas of forensic science. Each episode will feature two or three short talks given by practitioners, researchers, and/or students. The next episode will be held on Thursday July 17th at 1:00 ET and is titled Beyond the Match: The Rise of DNA Activity-Level Reasoning at Trial. It will feature talks by three speakers and a panel discussion. The live event is limited to 100 people. To register, visit https://buff.ly/YoEcSZW

06/26/2025

🔍 FEPAC Needs Practitioner Site Evaluators!
https://buff.ly/W0C8ovb

FEPAC is currently in urgent need of practitioner site evaluators to support upcoming accreditation visits. Several forensic science programs are awaiting review, and your expertise can make a meaningful impact.

📚 FEPAC offers a virtual training module, available on the AAFS website, to help you get started.

If you're interested or have questions, please reach out to:
Nicole Zevotek
FEPAC Accreditation and Outreach Manager
nzevotek@aafs.org

Your involvement helps ensure the continued quality and integrity of forensic science education. Thank you!

FEPAC Needs Practitioner Site Evaluators! FEPAC is currently in urgent need of practitioner site evaluators to support upcoming accreditation visits. Several forensic science programs are awaiting […]

06/25/2025

Call for Members (ANS Consensus Bodies)

New membership opportunities for all existing ASB consensus bodies.

Application Deadline: August 1, 2025

New membership opportunities for existing consensus bodies: Anthropology, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, CSI, DNA, Dogs and Sensors, Fi****ms and Toolmarks, Footwear and Tire, Forensic Document Examination, Forensic Nursing, Forensic Odontology, Friction Ridge, Mass Fatality Management and Disaster Victim Identification, Medicolegal Death Investigation, Toxicology, Wildlife Forensics.
The Academy Standards Board (ASB) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) is an ANSI-accredited Standards Development Organization. It is announcing a call for new members for all existing consensus bodies. The consensus bodies have 7 to 25 members based on applications received. Members will be selected by the Board of Directors of the ASB. The ASB has six interest categories, applicants are encouraged to apply in their self-selected interest category. A person may apply to one or more Consensus Body, and need not indicate the same interest category for each Consensus Body application. An on-line application form is available at https://buff.ly/7hHksFr, the website also contains links to several relevant documents describing the ASB. Applicants are requested to submit the online form to be considered for serving on the ASB consensus bodies by August 1, 2025

Questions: Teresa Ambrosius, TAmbrosius@aafs.org, 719-453-1036.

06/25/2025

Has your laboratory responded to the Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories (CPFFCL) national survey? We encourage you to join other laboratories and respond to this important web survey at https://buff.ly/BMIYos9 by July 18th, 2025. For questions or more information, please contact RTI International, BJS’s data collection agent for the CPFFCL, at bjsforensics@rti.org.

06/24/2025

Rapid DNA Roundtable Follow-Up
from the Symposium’s Rapid DNA Presentation:
Using Real-World Data to Support a Rapid DNA Arrestee Program in Your Laboratory.

When: July 17, 2025, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (MST)

Join the meeting https://buff.ly/RP4W6XD

Meeting ID: 240 608 613 466 5 Passcode: VP6XK3bS

Dial in by phone +1 872-215-6990
Phone conference ID: 663 363 325 #

Survey request from the Rapid DNA Working Group’s Infrastructure Subcommittee
The results will be discussed during the Roundtable.
Link to survey: https://buff.ly/WCwebBv

06/10/2025

Fellow ASCLD Members:

We have now received word of potential cuts to the FY26 Coverdell grant. The proposed budget by the DOJ and White House would reduce Coverdell funds by 70%. This reduction in funding will have serious and detrimental consequences to many forensic programs around the country.

I am urging you to contact your Member of Congress about the FY26 (October 2026-September 2027) Coverdell funds requesting that the Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Improvement Act be funded at $50 million, not $l0 million.

CFSO has already started lobbying members of Congress, the White House, and DOJ, but your help is needed in a grassroots advocacy campaign.

For further information https://buff.ly/fZWtomb