The American Society of Crime Lab Directors represents managers, directors, and leaders of crime laboratories across the United States spanning the entire range of local, state, and federal government laboratories as well as private labs. As such, policymakers often look to ASCLD to weigh in on matters affecting the nation’s crime labs. ASCLD produces Position Papers, Formal Comments, and Official Statements on a wide range of topics. Below, you can find ASCLD’s official positions and comments on multiple issues across last last several years.
2023 ASCLD Position Statements
2022 ASCLD Position Statements
- ASCLD Position Statement on Parent Agencies– November 2022
2021 ASCLD Position Statements
2020 ASCLD Position Statements
- Rapid DNA Position Statement with Overview– November 2020
- ASCLD White Paper on Sexual Assault Evidence Kits – May 2020
2019 ASCLD Position Statements
- ASCLD Comments to NIJ’s Needs Assessment 2019 Report – December 2019
- Volume of Untested Sexual Assault Evidence Kits (SAEKs) – November 2019
- ASCLD Investigative Genetic Genealogy Position Paper – October 2019
- Industrial Hemp and its Impact to Forensic Laboratories – January 2019
- National Helium Gas Shortage – February 2019
- Trauma and Stress in the Field of Forensic Science – February 2019
2018 ASCLD Position Statements
- ASCLD Comments to NIST Foundational Documents – November 2018
- Forensic Science Commissions and Massachusetts Senate Bill 2173 – March 2018
2017 ASCLD Position Statements
- Position Statement on Rapid DNA – November 2017
- DAG Announcement on DOJ Forensic Inititative – August 2017
- NIJ SAFER Report – August 2017
2014 ASCLD Position Statements
- Accreditation – August 2014
- Rapid DNA – March 2014
- CODIS Access – March 2014
2010 ASCLD Position Statements
- Reviewing Historical Practices of Forensic Science Laboratories – September 2010
- Technical Reviews of Outsourced DNA Cases – June 2010
- DNA Backlogs and Laboratory Capacity – February 2010
2008 Position Statements
The purpose of the following position statements from 2008 is to provide guidelines to those outside our community for the positions we support in order to safeguard the integrity and value of our profession. These are not immutable laws nor are they all inclusive. However, they represent ASCLD’s positions on what each laboratory operation should strive to meet. ASCLD recognizes the tremendous value, trust and responsibility that the forensic sciences bring and the role our laboratories play within the broader justice community and to the public it serves. In keeping with ASCLD’s history of providing leadership to the forensic community, we are proud to offer our 2008 Position Statements. It is the intent of ASCLD to actively promote open communication and a better understanding of the guiding principles of our profession with all interested parties so we may collectively benefit from meeting our core mission.
-Issued December 2008 by President Dean M. Gialamas and President-Elect Beth Greene
ASCLD Comments on National Commission on Forensic Science Documents
- Recommendation on Presentation of Expert Testimony – October 2014
- Recommendation on Presentation of Expert Testimony – November 2014
- Recommendation on AFIS Interoperability – May 2015
- Recommendation on Discovery – May 2015
- Recommendation on Root Cause Analysis – May 2015
- Recommendation on Testimony Using the Term “Reasonable Scientific Certainty” – May 2015
- Recommendation on National Code of Professional Responsibility – May 2015
- Recommendation on National Forensic Science Curriculum – August 2015
- Views on Proficiency Testing in Forensic Science – August 2015
- Views on Report Content – August 2015
- Views on Task Relevant Information – August 2015
- Views on Critical Steps to Accreditation – December 2015
- Views on Establishing the Foundational Literature within the Forensic Science Disciplines – December 2015
- Recommendation on Funding Post-doctoral Projects to Facilitate Translation of Research into Forensic Science Practice – December 2015
- Recommendation on National Code of Professional Responsibility – December 2015
- Recommendation on Testimony Using the Term “Reasonable Scientific Certainty” – December 2015
- Recommendation on Transparency of Quality System Documents – December 2015
- Views on Accreditation of Certifying Bodies – June 2016
- Views on Certification of FSSPs – June 2016
- Views on Optimizing Human Performance – June 2016
- Views on Proficiency Testing – June 2016
- Views Regarding Accreditation Program Requirements – June 2016
- Recommendation and Views on Case Record and Report Content – June 2016
- Recommendation on DME Accreditation – September 2016
- Views on Statistical Statements in Forensic Testimony – September 2016
- Views on Use of Checklists in Forensic Science – September 2016
ASCLD Comments on U.S. Department of Justice Documents
2019 Needs Assessment Report for Forensic Laboratories and Medical Examiners
Uniform Language for Testimony and Reports
- Footwear and Tire ULTR
- General Chemistry ULTR
- Glass ULTR
- Hair ULTR
- Handwriting ULTR
- Latent Prints ULTR
- Serology ULTR
- Textile Fibers ULTR
- Toxicology ULTR
- Y and Mito DNA ULTR
Forensic Science Discipline Reviews
2017 RFI on Advancing Forensic Science
Other ASCLD Policy Documents
2020-2021 ASCLD National Outreach Priorities and Agenda – December 2020
2019-2020 ASCLD National Outreach Priorities and Agenda – December 2019
2018-2019 ASCLD National Outreach Priorities and Agenda – September 2018
ASCLD Statement of Principles on Ethics – June 2018
ASCLD Opioid Press Release – November 2017
ASCLD Comments on NIST RFI for OSAC 2.0 – October 2017
2017-18 ASCLD National Outreach Priorities and Agenda – July 2017
Press Release Regarding the President’s FY2015 budget and Assisting Prosecution of Sexual Assault Cases – March 2014
ASCLD Public Comments to the National Commission on Forensic Science – February 2014
ASCLD Comments on NIST Guidance Groups – November 2013
SAFER Act Overview – March 2013
ASCLD Comments on the National Commission on Forensic Science – March 2013
President Sprigg’s Comments on Rapid DNA Instrumentation – October 2012
ASCLD Letter to Congress Regarding the NAS Report – March 2009
ASCLD Comments on the NAS Report – February 2009
NAS Report Executive Summary – February 2009