Quality in Forensic Service Accuracy & Reliability Are Present, Just Like on CSI, Right?

2. Quality in Forensic ServiceAccuracy & Reliability Are Present, Just Like on CSI, Right? Carl M. Selavka, Ph.D., D-ABC Director Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory Sudbury, Massachusetts

3. And Now, A Word From My Sponsor:

4. Disclaimers The opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official positions of the:

5. Disclaimed Agencies Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety Department of State Police Crime Laboratory System

6. Disclaimed Agencies NIJ AAFS DHHS ASCLD ABC NEAFS FEPAC ACS

7. Disclaimed Agencies NCST&L (Participants, Attendees, Those Actually Awake)

8. That Title

9. Presentation Summary • The Real Forensic World • Quality is Easy, Right? • Structure from Chaos • Legal Synergy • This is GOOD!

10. The Real Forensic World • From Crime Commission to Discovery • On-Site First-Responders & Investigators • Evidence Recognition, Presentation to Key Responders, Documentation, Collection & Transport Integrity • Triage to Avoid Exhaustive Examinations • The Examinations Themselves….

11. The Real Forensic World • Interpretations of Elicited & Missing Data • Contextual Elements Insure “Probative” Forensic Reports • Iterative Evidentiary Management Yields “Non-Advocacy” Credibility • Presentation in Court Provides Forensic Defensibility

13. Quality Assurance

14. Quality in Forensic Science • Quality(Webster’s II – 1984) • Essential Character • An Inherent Attribute • Degree of Excellence • Assurance • A Statement Intended to Inspire Confidence

15. Is Our QA Program Proper? • Is the Personnel System OK? • Do We Use Good Science? • Do We Report Correctly? • Are We Defensible? Ideal Lab Management

16. Infrastructure Certification Accreditation Standardization

17. National Standards Quality Assurance Quality Control

18. Infrastructure Accreditation

19. Quality Assurance ASCLD/LAB

20. American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors / Laboratory Accreditation Board ASCLD / LAB

21. ISO 17025 (Guide 25) • NAME – Death Investigation • IAI – Fingerprints • AFTE – Firearms, TMs • ABFT – Toxicology Other Accreditations

22. NATA, SCC, NAMAS • See the URL for More: • www.ascld-lab.org • Click On “Resources” • Click “Forensic Links” and you’ll get 36 Recognized Sites!! Other Accreditations

23. Objective Process • Impartial Review • Consensus Standards • Peer-Based Why ASCLD / LAB?

24. Infrastructure Certification Accreditation

25. ABC (www.criminalistics.com) ABFT (www.abft.org) IAI (www.theiai.org) Is the Personnel System OK?

26. Certification is NOT an End Unto Itself Certification is a passageway - a commitment to continued professional development

27. Proficiency Tests (PTs)

28. Recognize Possibly Deviant Results

29. That QA Guarantee… • Differentiate Anecdotal Issues From Systemic Performance Improvement Opportunities • Document Corrective Actions • Reestablish Competency Documentation

30. Change the Examiner’s Job

31. Why Is This a Good Approach to Certification? • Objective Process • Impartial Review • Consensus Standards • Peer-Based

32. Quality in Forensic Science • Accreditation– ASCLD/LAB & Others • Certification AAFS Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board • 2004 NIJ Guide – Appendix C • 9 FSAB-Recognized Programs • 14 Organizations Listed

33. Infrastructure Certification Accreditation Standardization

34. Do We Use Good Science? Do We Report Correctly? T/SWG - ___ ASTM

35. T / SWG Technical or Scientific Working Group for / on _____ (18 Total)

36. TWG-BSI • Bombing Scene Investigation • TWG-CSI • Crime Scene Investigation • TWG-DI • Death Invesigation Technical WG = NIJ

37. TWG-DE • Digital Evidence • TWG-EYEE • Eyewitness Evidence • TWG-FASI • Fire/Arson Scene Investigation • TWG-MFFI • Mass Fatality Forensic ID

38. SWG-STAIN • Bloodstain Pattern Analysis • SWG-DE • Digital Evidence • SWG-DAM • DNA Analysis Methods Scientific WG = FBI

39. SWG-GUN • Firearms and Toolmarks • SWG-FAST • Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology • SWG-IT • Imaging Technologies

40. SWG-MAT • Materials Analysis • SWG-MGF • Microbial Genetics & Forensics • SWG-DOC • Forensic Document Exam

41. SWG-DRUG • for the Analysis of Seized Drugs • TWG-FEX • Fire & Explosions Investigations Scientific WG = DEA Technical WG = NCFS

42. American Society for Testing & Materials – Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences (Now ASTM International) ASTM

43. 9 E30 Technical Groups • 6 E30 Specialty Groups • 25 E30.01 Criminalistics Standards ASTM International

44. Why Is This a Good Approach to Standardization? • Objective Process • Impartial Review • Consensus Standards • Peer-Based

45. Quality in Forensic Science • Accreditation– ASCLD/LAB & Others • Certification – AAFS FSAB & Others • Standardization ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences NIJ, FBI, DEA and NCFS Sponsors • 2004 NIJ Guide – Appendix D • 19 Standardization Groups

46. Infrastructure Certification Accreditation Quality Forensic Services Standardization

48. Required Quality Assurance • National Agencies? • State Agencies? • NY, OK, TX Crime Laboratories • Exempt Categories Plentiful • Examiners = NO • Municipal Agencies? • Local Governments? NO!

49. What You Should Expect From Forensic Practitioners

50. Practical Quality Guarantees We Provide