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President's Message
March 17, 2025 - Last President Message from Scott Ford
Dear Fellow Colleagues,
This week’s Crime Lab Minute marks my final message as President of ASCLD. At our Business Meeting in Denver, I will have the privilege of passing the torch to Scott Hummel, who will continue to lead this organization to new heights.
Reflecting on the past four years serving on the ASCLD Board, I can truly say it has been a whirlwind. Joining the Board at the first Symposium after COVID, we quickly realized just how much had changed. I am incredibly proud of the work we have done together to restore ASCLD’s financial strength and rebuild our momentum. To those I have served alongside on the Board—your dedication, resilience, and leadership have been inspiring.
Everyone says it, and it’s true—the past four years have flown by. This has been the most challenging, yet most rewarding period of my professional career. Serving on the Board has provided me with a depth of knowledge and perspective about our field that I never could have imagined. If you are considering getting involved, do it—serve, participate, stay informed, and be part of the solution. ASCLD thrives because of you.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible membership, ASCLD Board of Directors, committees, and Past Presidents. You are what makes ASCLD such a special organization. I look forward to seeing where we go next and, more importantly, to being part of the continued success that will shape the future for those who come after us.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you—for your trust, your support, your time, and most of all, your friendship. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as President of this amazing organization.
With gratitude,
Scott Ford
President, American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
March 3, 2025 - Mandy Tinkey, Julie Sikorsky
The next two CLM publications will spotlight our outstanding group of ASCLD Board of Directors candidates. Take the time to get to know them and be ready to cast your vote at the upcoming Symposium—it’s just around the corner!
Mandy Tinkey
- Laboratory Director (September 2020 to Present)
- Manager of Operations (June 2014 to September 2022)
- Laboratory Manager (February 2010 to June 2014)
Julie Conover Sikorsky
February 18, 2025 - Jason Bundy, Vanessa Martinucci
The next two CLM publications will spotlight our outstanding group of ASCLD Board of Directors candidates. Take the time to get to know them and be ready to cast your vote at the upcoming Symposium—it’s just around the corner!
Jason Bundy
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Education:
BS in Biochemistry; MS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Employment experience:
Employed by FDLE since 2001 with experience as a DNA analyst, DNA Technical leader, Personnel Supervisor, Quality Manager, Deputy Director of Forensics and now Director of Forensic Services.
Prior ASCLD experience (previous Board member, committee member, meeting volunteer, meeting attendee, etc.)
I have participated for numerous years on the Member Resource Committee, 3 years on the Advocacy Committee, 2 years on the planning committee (volunteered onsite assistance in 2024). I have attended at least three meetings in person and have spoken at ASCLD in 2024 on Project Management in Forensic Validations.
If elected, I am interested in working on the following ASCLD issues/committees:
I would like to continue to support the Forensic Community and build on program development with universities and the programs that support forensic organizations, either in a continued education or discipline training aspect. I of course support the ASCLD meeting as a phenomenal resource for training forensic leadership and personally support planning the meeting each year. I am willing to help where needed.
As a member of the Board, you may be asked to represent ASCLD at speaking engagements or develop written statements on behalf of the Board. How would you describe your ability to communicate ideas verbally and in writing?
While not an English professor, I have experience speaking in front of groups and can put together cohesive statements with a slant to sharing a simple message.
How committed are you to serving on the ASCLD Board? What skills will you bring to the table?
I am committed to serving on the board. As part of a large forensic organization, it is my responsibility to support the national organizations that support us. While my organization has not always seen this as a priority, I have shifted that focus as Director and regularly encourage the involvement of all our forensic members across the community. I can do this best and be an example as part of the Board. The skillsets I possess that could be valuable to the community is a commitment to finding a way to get things done. There is no task that is valuable to forensics that we cannot identify a solution to make it happen.
What role should ASCLD play in developing a strong future for forensic science laboratories?
I believe that ASCLD is a critical resource to the community, and I support that through my support and attendance for myself and staff annually. I strongly believe that improved training and leadership continue to be critical for our community and continue to work to support preparing our forensic professionals to lead at every level of their organizations. I also believe that ASCLD is a well-situated organization to collaborate or even support smaller organizations and share the national forensic voice.
Vanessa Martinucci
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Crime Laboratory
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA
Master of Science in Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Employment experience:
Miami-Dade Police Department Crime Laboratory (FL) Criminalist 1, Forensic Biology (October 2005 – July 2010)
DuPage County Forensic Science Center (IL) Forensic Scientist, Forensic Biology (July 2010 – August 2013)
Forensic Scientist Supervisor and Technical Leader, Forensic Biology (August 2013 – January 2017)
Mitotyping Identity Laboratories (PA) Forensic DNA Technical Leader (February 2017 – August 2017)
Houston Forensic Science Center (TX) Supervisor, Forensic Biology/DNA Section (September 2017 – August 2019)
North Carolina State Crime Laboratory Director (August 2019 – September 2023)
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Crime Laboratory (TN) Crime Laboratory Director (November 2023 – present)
Prior ASCLD experience (previous Board member, committee member, meeting volunteer, meeting attendee, etc.)
I have been an active member of ASCLD since 2020. I have served on the Member Resource Committee since March 2021, and served on the International Committee in 2022. This year, I am also serving on the Symposium Planning Committee. I have completed the ASCLD Leadership Academy Levels 1, 2, and 3. I attended the ASCLD Annual Symposium in Reno, NV in 2022, and in Birmingham, AL in 2024.
If elected, I am interested in working on the following ASCLD issues/committees:
I would like to continue to serve on the Member Resource Committee. The monthly meetings are a valuable way of sharing current topics affecting forensic laboratories and connecting with other leaders. The members of this committee are always willing to assist each other with data sharing and offering ideas on best practices. Over the years, the committee has generated many documents for the membership that provide valuable insight and guidance on issues and concerns that are faced by forensic laboratories. I have also enjoyed my time on the Symposium Planning committee. Seeing firsthand all the work that goes into making the symposium a successful event has given me a new appreciation for the hard work, dedication, and teamwork required. The annual symposium is one of the best and only opportunities for training specifically relevant to laboratory management. In the end, I am happy to participate in any capacity in which I am needed to serve the society.
As a member of the Board, you may be asked to represent ASCLD at speaking engagements or develop written statements on behalf of the Board. How would you describe your ability to communicate ideas verbally and in writing?
Throughout my nearly 20-year career in forensics, I have developed and improved my written and verbal communication skills. I have had the opportunity to present at scientific meetings as well as in front of groups of legislators, Chiefs of Police, Sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys, and defense attorneys. In my roles as Technical Leader and Supervisor, I was required to write policies and procedures that could be understood and followed by both new trainees and seasoned scientists. In my managerial roles, I have had to present information to my teams both in writing in emails and by creating and presenting PowerPoint slides in meetings. I have also had to communicate with my teams verbally in group as well as one-on-one settings. Different people receive and process information in different ways. Over the years, I have learned how to tailor my message to the receiver, as one of the keys to successful communication is knowing your audience.
How committed are you to serving on the ASCLD Board? What skills will you bring to the table?
I am fully committed to serving the membership of ASCLD by being a member of the Board. If elected, I will work with the other ASCLD Board members to continue growing the society and expanding the opportunities that it provides to leaders within forensic laboratories. I have a strong work ethic and can be counted on to get things done. I feel that as a leader, it is more important to listen than to speak. I will listen to the membership and provide guidance and assistance in any way that I can. I believe in making data-driven decisions while also considering the effect those decisions have on the people involved. I have worked in several laboratories of different sizes, so I can relate to the challenges facing small and medium-sized local labs and large state labs. I have even worked at a private laboratory, so I can bring that perspective as well. Additionally, I have experience serving on other boards and groups outside of ASCLD, including the North Carolina Forensic Science Board, the Criminal Justice Information Network in North Carolina, and the Remote Proceedings Task Force in North Carolina. I also served on the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) DNA Laboratory Efficiency Improvement Working Group that produced the document titled “National Best Practices for Improving DNA Laboratory Process Efficiency”.
What role should ASCLD play in developing a strong future for forensic science laboratories?
For forensic science laboratories to have a strong future, they need strong leaders. As the only professional society specifically targeted to forensic laboratory management, ASCLD has an important role to play in developing those leaders. As scientists move up the ranks within the laboratory structure, they are not often provided the training and mentoring that is needed to become a good leader. The ASCLD Leadership Academy is an excellent training in all things leadership and managing a forensic laboratory. ASCLD should also continue to be an advocate for the needs of forensic laboratories. All laboratories face similar challenges. Through its membership in the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO), ASCLD joins other groups to provide a singular message around those challenges and how to solve them. In addition, ASCLD provides a unique opportunity for collaboration and knowledge sharing among leaders of forensic laboratories. Having a group of people that you can turn to for advice and direction is invaluable. ASCLD should continue recruiting new members to join the society and attend the annual symposium, as the larger the community, the more we can learn from each other.
Thank you all for your continued support of ASCLD. Together, we are making a difference in our profession and the communities we serve.
Scott Ford
February 3, 2025
Dear Fellow Colleagues,
Leadership in forensic science is more than a title or a position—it is a responsibility, a commitment, and a driving force behind the progress of our field. Every decision we make, every challenge we face, and every innovation we implement has a lasting impact on the justice system and the communities we serve.
Effective forensic leadership is built on three pillars: Integrity, Innovation, and Investment.
Integrity: As forensic professionals, we are stewards of truth. Our leadership must uphold the highest standards of ethics, transparency, and scientific rigor. Integrity is not just about following policies—it’s about setting the example for our teams, ensuring accountability, and fostering a culture where quality and objectivity are non-negotiable.
Innovation: The field of forensic science is constantly evolving, and strong leadership embraces change rather than resists it. Whether through new technologies, process improvements, or evidence-based practices, we must be forward-thinking and proactive in advancing our laboratories. Leadership means empowering our teams to explore new ideas, challenge outdated methodologies, and continually strive for excellence.
Investment: Our greatest asset is our people. True leadership is about investing in the growth and development of those around us—mentoring new forensic scientists, supporting professional development, and cultivating future leaders. The sustainability of our field depends on how well we prepare the next generation to carry forward our mission.
As members of ASCLD, we all play a role in shaping the future of forensic science. Whether you are a seasoned laboratory director or an emerging leader, your influence matters. Let’s continue to support one another, share our knowledge, and strengthen the foundation of forensic science leadership.
Thank you for your dedication to this profession and to ASCLD. I look forward to seeing the continued impact we make together.
Scott Ford
January 20, 2025 - Membership Campaign
This week’s edition of the CLM will highlight an ASCLD Membership Campaign to strengthen our community!
Help Us Grow – Nominate 1-2 New Members Today!
The ASCLD community thrives when we expand our membership and bring in fresh perspectives. We invite you to help us grow by identifying 1-2 potential members who could benefit from ASCLD membership and encouraging them to apply.
Here is how you can help:
- Identify Potential Members: Think about colleagues, professionals, or organizations in your network who would benefit from ASCLD membership. This could include forensic scientists, crime laboratory directors, managers, and supervisors working in forensic and law enforcement fields. Individuals employed by a crime laboratory who have demonstrated interest in career development into a management role as well as educators/instructors employed by an institution of higher learning or a public law enforcement training academy are also eligible for membership.
- Encourage Them to Apply: Share the benefits of membership and encourage them to apply. You can direct them to the ASCLD website, where they will find an easy application process.
- Support Their Application: If needed, you can help by offering insight into how ASCLD membership has benefited you or sponsoring their application for membership.
Together, we can build a stronger, more connected forensic community.
Why Join ASCLD?
The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) is committed to supporting forensic science professionals through advocacy, education, and professional development. When you become an ASCLD member, you unlock numerous benefits that enhance your career and advance the forensic science community.
Key Benefits of ASCLD Membership:
- Professional Networking: Connect with peers, leaders, and experts in the field of forensic science. ASCLD provides opportunities to expand your professional network, whether through conferences, special interest groups, or online forums.
- Educational Opportunities: Access exclusive training programs, webinars, and workshops designed to keep you informed of the latest developments in forensic science, technology, and management practices.
- Advocacy: ASCLD advocates for policies that promote the importance of forensic science and secure the funding and resources necessary for crime labs to operate effectively. As a member, you are a part of this vital advocacy effort.
- Resource Sharing: Gain access to a wealth of resources, including best practices, lab management tools, accreditation guidelines, and legal updates, designed to enhance the operations of forensic laboratories and professionals.
- Recognition: As a member, you are part of an organization that recognizes the critical role of forensic professionals in the justice system. Through various awards and recognitions, ASCLD celebrates the achievements and contributions of its members.
Leadership Opportunities: Participate in committees and leadership roles within ASCLD to have a direct impact on the direction of the organization and the forensic science profession.
Thank you all for your continued support of ASCLD. Together, we are making a difference in our profession and the communities we serve.
January 6, 2025 - ICITAP
This week I wanted to highlight The International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP). ICITAP is a development organization within the U.S. Department of Justice, whose mission is to strengthen national security by advancing U.S. law enforcement operations abroad. ICITAP works with foreign governments to develop effective, professional, and transparent law enforcement capacity that protects human rights, combats corruption, and reduces the threat of transnational crime and terrorism in support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives.
ICITAP was created by Congress in 1986 to enhance the investigative capabilities of Latin America and Caribbean law enforcement including training on forensic processes, development of academy instruction, and improvement of administrative and management processes. Over the past 38 years, ICITAP has evolved into a full-service, criminal justice development agency, which assists foreign partners meet the demands of an interconnected world through professionalization of police that improves community trust as well as their capability to investigate today’s most complex crimes.
Forensic science plays a critical role in not only aiding complex investigations, but also in contributing to the public’s trust in the police and the overall criminal justice system. ICITAP believes that forensic science is a critical element to establishing a fair and evidence-based criminal justice system that fosters public confidence. Currently, ICITAP manages forensic assistance programs across five continents through funding and support from the U.S. Department of State. A number of programs, especially across Africa, have a distinct focus on counterterrorism and the forensic disciplines most relevant to combating terrorist threats across the continent.
ICITAP’s comprehensive approach to its forensic assistance is sustainable and outcomes driven. A key framework for ICITAP’s efforts is support for accreditation under standards from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which helps ensure the reliability of forensic evidence and improve public trust. Accreditation also plays a critical role in facilitating information sharing between foreign counterparts; aids in prosecuting cases in other jurisdictions, including the United States; and provides a continuous improvement framework that aids sustainability of U.S. foreign assistance. ASCLD’s membership can appreciate that achieving accreditation is a long process that requires planning and development of a quality-management program. It is especially challenging for a laboratory to be the first in a country, and even a region, when pursuing international accreditation as a goal. ICITAP’s advisors mentor host-country forensic managers in all aspects of laboratory management and guide them on change-management tactics required for the accreditation process.
ICITAP programs also aim to support and integrate broader justice sector reform initiatives in host nations across the globe. For instance, ICITAP’s accreditation-focused mission in Mexico has played an integral role in supporting Mexico’s transition to an adversarial criminal justice system. Prior to this transition, forensic experts did not testify in criminal trials. Accreditation of Mexican labs aids in the presentation of evidence – which will withstand the scrutiny of adversarial trials – and provides confidence for the experts when testifying. To date, ICITAP has supported the accreditation of 169 forensic sections across Mexico and includes 25 of Mexico’s 32 state laboratories and the federal government. With crime-scene investigation under laboratory management, there are now 19 Mexican states with accredited crime scene units, with more in process. In Colombia, ICITAP’s work supported the implementation of agreements resulting from the formal peace process after decades of conflict with paramilitary groups. As part of the reconciliation process, the government learned details of forced disappearances and killings related to the conflict. Over the years, ICITAP has trained investigators and forensic anthropologists in the exhumation of remains from mass graves and supported the creation of a human identification laboratory. Most recently, ICITAP supported the implementation of next-generation sequencing to aid in the analysis of bone samples and coordinated the collection of family reference samples through community engagements outside of the major cities.
ICITAP is also developing forensic capabilities to help address the growing threat of cybercrime, especially those that are transnational, as well as the improved use of digital evidence to solve other crimes. This includes the expanded use of drone-facilitated crimes. In Nepal, ICITAP is supporting the country’s Digital Forensic Laboratory analyze digital evidence in a tool-agnostic approach that allows the laboratory to not be completely reliant on tools that may become unavailable due to export controls or have a dramatic increase in licensing fees. ICITAP assistance is tailored to the devices that the host nation sees, which, in this instance, is more Android devices from China and other Asian countries.
As part of wider justice sector initiatives, ICITAP also helps establish fingerprint, DNA, and ballistics databases, and ensures that databases are compatible with internationally accepted formats. ICITAP has supported the FBI’s donation of their CODIS DNA database software by providing mentoring on database management and related quality issues. This may include providing advice on coordination with various justice stakeholders to improve the implementation of a national database.
ICITAP’s work is greatly aided by ASCLD and its members. ICITAP partnered with ASCLD to provide the first international delivery of the Leadership Academy in Mexico. ICITAP now partners with Mexican and Costa Rican counterparts to jointly deliver with Leadership Academy graduates a Spanish-language course adapted to the Latin American context. The current iteration of the training is jointly improving the leadership skills of participants from Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama. If you have the opportunity to engage with a foreign counterpart, whether through ICITAP or not, please know that you are a small part of sharing the best of our criminal justice system to make the world a better place. Your time and interest in their work, and their country, will be appreciated greatly.
https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-icitap
Thank you all for your continued support of ASCLD. Together, we are making a difference in our profession and the communities we serve.
News
March 17, 2025
Operational Needs Assessment Intake Form
Pursuant to the March 2024 Joint Explanatory Statement for the Commerce, Science, Justice, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, the National Institute of Justice, in collaboration with its FTCOE, is working towards an operational needs assessment on projected workload, backlog, personnel, workforce, resources, necessary turnaround times for law enforcement officers and officers of the court, and equipment needs of forensic science providers and forensic medical service providers. This upcoming report will be subsequent to the 2019 Report to Congress: Needs Assessment of Forensic Laboratories and Medical Examiner/Coroner Offices.
To provide a comprehensive and meaningful needs assessment, we need input across the forensic community to understand challenges forensic science service providers encounter in their daily operations — as well as promising practices to overcome these challenges. We are seeking perspectives from scientists and laboratory leadership, researchers, students, private sector, legal/judicial, and law enforcement, which all rely on the operational performance of forensic science, to understand current operational forensic needs. Please consider sharing some of these perspectives in the following short form—while we are looking for needs that fit within the themes of workforce/personnel, backlog/workload, and resources/equipment, we welcome and consider many different perspectives.
Complete the brief intake form HERE!
Proxy Voting Instructions for 2025 ASCLD Annual Business Meeting - Notice to Membership
To obtain a mail-in ballot, contact the ASCLD Executive Director at least one week prior to the symposium (April 4-8, 2025). Proxy designations must be submitted in writing to the ASCLD Executive Director, in person or by email, no later than Sunday, April 6, 2025. The Business meeting will be held, Monday, April 7th. Each proxy representative shall cast one vote for themselves, and one additional vote for each member that they represent by proxy.
Proficiency Test on the Detection of AI Generated Images
The Bundeskriminalamt – the main crime laboratory in Germany – is offering a proficiency test on the detection of AI generated images and welcomes your participation. If you would like to participate (free of charge of course), please send an email by March 28th, 2025, to Danicka.Schroeteler@bka.bund.de
Details: This test will contain about 30 images that are either real photographies (i.e. not generated/manipulation by generative AI) or synthetic (i.e. AI generated images).
Methods: You can analyse these images in whatever way you like, e.g. a visual assessment, forensic methods, or deep neural network classifiers, or all of them at once.
Deliverable: Your results report (we will provide a template for that) should contain the following information:
- A list of classification labels for each image.
- Optionally, this can also contain some more details, e.g. which image regions are particularly suspicious.
- A description of the methods you used for this test.
Timeline:
- March 31st: Images will be made available
- April 1st until April 30th: Your time to assess the images.
- The official report containing the solutions and the anonymised results will be sent to you until May 30th.
March 3, 2025
ASCLD welcomes Kathleen Corrado as a new ASCLD representative to the US TAG to TC272. She joins Jody Wolf and Erin Forry as ASCLD’s representatives.
ASCLD welcomes David Koppenhaver as the ASCLD Representative to ABC. He succeeds Jason Linder, whose term has expired.
Erin Forry continues to serve as the Program Manager for the ASCLD Accreditation Initiative for RTI.
Jeff Nye continues to serve as the ASCLD representative to the OSAC FSSB.
February 18, 2025
Forensic Science Validation Questionnaire
You know validations in forensic science are essential to ensure the test methods we use in our laboratories are reliable and fit for purpose. You also know how challenging they can be due to limited guidance validation design, difficulty in sourcing appropriate test samples, and the strain they put on already limited laboratory resources. To address these challenges, RTI International is developing tools and resources to improve validations in forensic science.
To assist in this work, a questionnaire has been developed by RTI to gather information about how validations are performed in the forensic science community. This questionnaire is also collecting information about how your lab is using AI tools in forensic science. Your participation, or that of someone in your organization, is greatly appreciated. Take survey HERE
The National Association of Forensic Laboratory Counsel (NAFLC) Annual Training and Meeting
The National Association of Forensic Laboratory Counsel (NAFLC) will hold its 2025 Annual Training and Meeting at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science in Richmond, VA from April 14 through 16, 2025. Non-members are encouraged to attend, but you MUST be an attorney advising a public forensic laboratory that primarily provides services to government or law enforcement agencies to be admitted to this training. Additional information, including the agenda, registration form, and hotel reservation link, may be found on NAFLC’s website HERE.
Earn your Certified Forensic Manager Certification!
The National Forensic Science Academy (NFSA) has its testing window open for the Certified Forensic Manager Level I (CFM-I) and Level II (CFM-II) certifications. This is your chance to earn a prestigious certification that recognizes your expertise and dedication to leadership in forensic science.
If you have completed the ASCLD Leadership Academy from May 2019 to today, you are eligible to apply. Don’t miss this opportunity to advance your career and enhance your professional credentials. The testing window closes on February 28, 2025, so act now!
To set up your account and register for the exam log onto to site HERE.
If you have any questions, please email the NFSA at admin@thenfsa.org
For more information and to register, visit our website HERE.
Elevate your Leadership. Improve Forensic Science.
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Are you an ASCLD member that wants to learn more about the organization?
Want to be involved in guiding and planning the future of the organization? Want to be more involved? We would love to have new team members on any of our committees. To learn more about what we do and how you can join us visit: ASCLD – Committees ASCLD needs you!
Visit ASCLD Job Posting Site
Did you know that “Job Postings” is one of our most visited sites on the ASCLD webpage? Did you also know that you can advertise jobs for your agency FREE OF CHARGE on the ASCLD website? Please visit https://www.ascld.org/job-postings/ to learn more!
January 20, 2025
Are you an ASCLD member that wants to learn more about the organization? Want to be involved in guiding and planning the future of the organization? Want to be more involved? We would love to have new team members on any of our committees. To learn more about what we do and how you can join us visit: ASCLD – Committees ASCLD needs you!
January 6, 2025
- Did you know that “Job Postings” is one of our most visited sites on the ASCLD webpage? Did you also know that you can advertise jobs for your agency FREE OF CHARGE on the ASCLD website? Please visit ASCLD Job Postings to learn more!
- The U.S. House of Representatives presents the Inaugural Webinar on FIGG titled “The Future of DNA Technology.” The webinar can be found here: Forensic Science Caucus Webinar Recording 2024. Although practitioners cannot participate in the Caucus, you are encouraged to ask your House member to participate!
- U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Carla Walker Act on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, which would dedicate federal grant funds to support forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) DNA analysis and help solve previously unsolvable cold cases. The bill is named for Carla Walker, a Fort Worth, TX native whose murderer was finally identified 46 years after her death with the help of this technology.
Website Update
January 6, 2025
ASCLD encourages members to take advantage of all resources available on the website. The new version of the website changed the process to login to access all of the great resources available only to members. Please see the instructions HERE to see what you may be missing and learn how to login and change your password, if needed. See the website HERE.
CFSO News
March 17, 2025
The March 2025 Newsletter has been published on the CFSO website.
February 18, 2025
ASCLD encourages all members to visit the CFSO website https://thecfso.org/ to learn about what the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations representatives (ASCLD, IAI, IACME, NAME, SOFT, AAFS, and ABFT) are doing for you.
January 6, 2025
CFSO NEEDS YOUR HELP!
We are writing on two matters that need your immediate assistance. There are two significant issues in Congress that will help the Forensic Science Community.
Please call or email your Member of Congress and request that they
1. become Members of the House of Representatives Forensic Science Caucus and;
2. sign onto H.R. 8069/S928, the Strengthening the Medical Examiner and Coroner System Act of 2024.
Please use one of the two templates below for your letter. One is for a Member of the House and the other is for a Member of the Senate. Please note that the letters are slightly different.
https://www.ascld.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CFSO-Letter-Templates-11.24.pdf
Volunteer Opportunity
The Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO) is looking for a volunteer who can assist the CFSO Board volunteers work on forensic science legislation, advocacy preparation, government budget tracking, and newsletters. This is a great learning experience for forensic scientists and forensic managers at all levels of experience and in any discipline. The person selected will work closely with the CFSO government relations expert and the Board members from seven organizations and is expected to attend the annual meeting of the CFSO during the AAFS annual meeting. Room and board assistance will be provided for the day of the CFSO public meeting and the CFSO annual meeting, occurring on Monday and Tuesday of the AAFS Annual Meeting week. Please send in your interest to Matthew Gamette, ASCLD representative on the CFSO, at matthew.gamette@thecfso.org
For more information on CFSO activities and news and forensic science news visit: https://thecfso.org/
Funding Opportunities
Training
Train the Director Series - March 6, 2025
The ASCLD Training and Education Committee is proud to announce the next episode in the “ASCLD Train the Director Webinar Series” entitled Advanced Technology in Crime Scene Documentation. The rapid advancement of technology makes integrating new tools into crime scene units essential for efficient operations. This presentation highlights how two organizations adopted drones and advanced 3D scanning to improve their units. Presenters will share insights into overcoming challenges and successfully implementing new technologies. The episode will be held Thursday, March 6, 2025. To register visit https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/1f52ad74-8285-4229-928e-86b98b2148e1@af1ce0ae-c15d-44ae-a742-ee94c16eed51
Train the Director Series - February 6, 2025
Train the Director Series - January 9, 2025
- ASCLD Training & Education Committee - Train the Director Series
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The next ASCLD Train the Director webinar is scheduled for this Thursday, January 9 from 1-2PM EST.
The topic is the recent Smith v Arizona Supreme Court ruling on the Confrontation Clause. New York City ADA Ray Valerio and Oklahoma First Assistant Attorney General Amie Ely were instrumental in writing the Practitioner Resource Document which provides approaches to avoiding constitutional violations.
Register now (https://www.ascld.org/training-and-education-committee/train-the-director-series/) and join us for an informative discussion of this critical matter with our distinguished speakers. Also, in order to cover as much information in such a short amount of time, we ask that you re-review the document in advance of the webinar. The document can be found on the CFSO website - https://thecfso.org/legal/. Thank you! - Did you miss a previous Train the Director Series webinar from April 2024 and prior? They are still available so watch and gather lots of information about various topics in today’s forensic science community.
Monthly Board Meetings
The BOD will not meet March 21st; however, the BOD will meet on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5th in-person in Denver, CO between the hours of 10AM-4PM.
Please email John Byrd at ExecutiveDirector@ASCLD.org for a link to the Zoom meeting. Past meeting minutes and committee reports are available on the website by logging into the ASCLD.org website, clicking the Member File Repository link and navigating your way to Members/Monthly Meeting Minutes and Committee Reports.
Do you have an announcement or resource that you would like to share with the ASCLD membership or forensic community?
Fill out the new webform to submit your content. One request for all three venues makes it quick and easy!
You can navigate to the page under the “About Us” menu item, then “News and Updates,” and select “Submit Content to ASCLD.” HERE
The webform asks for your contact information (in case there are questions), the text of the information that you would like to share, and any files, such as flyers or graphics.
We look forward to hearing from you!
