OSAC Expands Outreach to Non-Traditional Laboratories

foster+freeman has been a strong supporter of the forensic sciences for over 40 years.  In that time, the company has provided technology and products that have assisted forensic science practitioners in the field and in the laboratory.  New technology and equipment go hand in hand with increasing the professionalization of the forensic sciences through the development and implementation of sound standards and guidelines.

The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for the Forensic Sciences was formed in early 2014 to help foster the forensic science standards development effort into the future.  Prior to 2014, the guidance documents developed for various forensic science disciplines were generated by Scientific Working Groups (SWGs) that were funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

When NIJ funding ceased in late 2013, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) continued the support of the standards development process by creating OSAC. The mission of OSAC is to strengthen “the nation’s use of forensic science by facilitating the development of technically sound standards and guidelines and encouraging their use throughout the forensic science community.”  These standards and guidelines, once approved, are placed on the OSAC Registry and are available for public review (view here).

Initially, there were 23 forensic science disciplines established and two more were added over the following two years for a total of 25 subcommittees falling under five (5) Scientific Area Committees (SACs).  The original five SACs and subcommittees were:

Biology/DNA

  • Biology Data Interpretation & Reporting
  • Biological Methods
  • Wildlife Forensics

Digital Multimedia

  • Digital Evidence
  • Facial Identification
  • Speaker Recognition
  • Video Imaging Technology & Analysis

Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis

  • Fire Debris & Explosives
  • Geological Materials
  • Gunshot Residue
  • Materials (Trace)
  • Seized Drugs
  • Toxicology

Crime Scene/Death Investigation

  • Anthropology
  • Crime Scene Investigation
  • Disaster Victim Identification
  • Dogs and Sensors
  • Fire and Explosive Investigation
  • Odontology

Physics/Pattern Interpretation

  • Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
  • Firearms & Toolmarks
  • Footwear & Tire
  • Forensic Document Examination
  • Friction Ridge

A reorganization of OSAC in 2020 decreased the number of subcommittees (22) but increased the number of SACs (7).  The reorganization allowed for OSAC to streamline some of their document development processes and better align similar forensics science activities under the same SAC. The SACs and subcommittees are:

Biology

  • Human Forensic Biology
  • Wildlife Forensic Biology

Chemistry: Seized Drug & Toxicology

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Seized Drugs

Chemistry: Trace Evidence

  • Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue
  • Trace Materials

Digital/Multimedia

  • Digital Evidence
  • Facial Identification
  • Speaker Recognition
  • Video Imaging Technology & Analysis

Medicine

  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Forensic Nursing
  • Forensic Odontology
  • Medicolegal Death Investigation

Physics/Pattern Interpretation

  • Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
  • Firearms & Toolmarks
  • Footwear & Tire
  • Forensic Document Examination
  • Friction Ridge

Scene Examination

  • Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction
  • Dogs and Sensors
  • Fire & Explosion Investigation

Over 800 volunteer members and affiliates work diligently to provide the forensic science community with the tools to improve the professionalism and effectiveness of the various disciplines represented through OSAC.

In the summer of 2020, the oversight body of OSAC (the Forensic Science Standards Board or “FSSB”) created an “implementation strategy” to increase outreach to community stakeholders and encourage implementation of standards that have made it through the vetting process and are on the OSAC Registry.

The initial outreach was directed to engage with the over 400 traditional forensic science service providers (FSSPs) to open lines of communication regarding the benefits of implementation.  In early 2022, OSAC recognized that there were many other “non-traditional” FSSPs who could benefit from similar outreach efforts. 

This past October, the OSAC Program Office (OPO) added a non-traditional outreach contractor to their team to engage with those forensic science service providers (FSSPs) that fall outside the 410 currently recognized laboratories.  These non-traditional FSSPs represent thousands, if not tens of thousands, of small forensic operations that may only provide examination or analysis support in one or a few disciplines. 

Many of these non-traditional FSSPs are extensions of law enforcement agencies but a good number of them are privately owned and operated. OSAC believes these non-traditional FSSPs are significant stakeholders in the standards development and implementation effort and providing a resource to initiate communication and open channels to the organization is the next, best step to building the enterprise.

Among the disciplines that are often under-represented or (possibly) overlooked in the non-traditional realm are Latent Print Examination, Facial Examination, Footwear Examination, Firearms/Tool Mark Examination, Crime Scene and Digital Evidence (among others). These non-traditional FSSPs face significant challenges when it comes to funding and supporting their respective operations which includes maintaining high quality assurance and control.

It is hoped that OSAC, through this expanded outreach effort, can help clear up any misconceptions about the standards implementation effort and facilitate full or partial implementation of registry standards as they apply to those FSSPs.  As the focus on forensic science continues to intensify, it’s critical that stakeholders across the spectrum of the criminal justice and law enforcement communities continue to engage, communicate and understand the value of standards and guidelines implementation. 

Please reach out to steven.johnson@idealinnovations.com if you are interested in discussing standards or starting the standards implementation journey in your agency.