QUALITY IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCES Frederick W. Fochtman, Ph.D., F-ABFT Director, Forensic Science and Law Masters Program Duquesne University Accreditation Certification Validation

Did it really start here?

DOJ’s National Commission on Forensic Science and NIST Under the Department of Justice and National Institute of Standards and Technology Memorandum of understanding announced in February 2013, NIST is responsible for developing “guidance groups,” which are intended to replace the current Scientific Working Groups (SWGs). The memorandum of understanding between DOJ and NIST was signed in August NIST has named this new infrastructure the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC).

Organization of Scientific Area Committees On February 4, 2014, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced the formation of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC). The OSAC will be a collaborative body of more than 600 forensic science practitioners and other experts who represent all levels of the government, academia and industry. NIST established OSAC to strengthen the nation’s use of forensic science by supporting the development and promulgation of forensic science consensus documentary standards and guidelines, determining each forensic discipline’s research and measurement standards needs and ensuring that a sufficient scientific basis exists for each discipline.

Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC)

ACCREDITATION It is recommended that all forensic science providers (FSSPs) become accredited. Accreditation Independent third party assessment of quality, administrative, and technical systems. Specific criteria and procedures based on accepted standards to ensure a quality management system. Evaluation of staff competence, training, and continuing education; method validation; test methods, traceability of measurements and calibrations to national standards; testing equipment and environment; documentation of handling of test items; and quality assurance of data and reported results. Proficiency testing

LABORATORY ACCREDITATION And ISO/IEC Standards “We can do it fast; we can do it cheap; we can do it well. Pick any two.” – Red Adair “This about sums up lab accreditation as well as anything.” – Harold Peel

Accrediting Bodies ANAB ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board ANAB and ASCLD/LAB Merge Operations 04/22/16 ANAB has signed an affiliation agreement with the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board, merging ASCLD/LAB into ANAB. ANAB and NAME Form Strategic Alliance 05/12/16 ANAB and NAME have formed a strategic alliance whereby ANAB will administer the NAME accreditation program on behalf of NAME. ABFT

ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Divided into two major sections Section 4 covers management or administrative elements Section 5 covers scientific and technical requirements

Management Requirements Organization Management system Document control Review of requests, tenders and contracts Subcontracting of tests (and calibration) Purchasing services and supplies Service to the customer Complaints Controlling of non- conforming testing (and/or calibration work) Improvement Corrective action Preventive action Control of records Internal audits Management reviews

Technical Requirements General Personnel Accommodation and environmental conditions Test (and calibration) methods and method validation Equipment Measurement traceability Sampling Handling of test (and calibration) items Assuring the quality of test (calibration) results Reporting of results

Mandatory Written Policies (minimum) Protecting customer information Avoiding activities that decrease confidence Quality Review of contracts Purchasing Resolving complaints Handling non-conformance Corrective action Training Additional policies To meet organizational needs

Mandatory Written Procedures Protecting customer information Avoiding activities that decrease confidence Document control Document review/available where needed Amending docs by hand Changes to docs in electronic systems Review of contracts Purchasing Resolving complaints Handling non-conformance Corrective action Records Electronic records Internal audit Management review Training

Mandatory Written Procedures (continued) Special housekeeping Validation Estimate of uncertainty (calibration) Estimate of uncertainty (testing) Protecting electronic data Use of equipment Intermediate checks – equipment calibration Updating correction factors Calibration of equipment Calibration of reference standards Intermediate checks – reference standards Handling, etc., of reference standards Sampling Recording sampling data Receipt, etc., of test items Avoiding loss/damage of test items QC monitoring

Compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2005 ? DoD Minimum Quality Assurance (QA) Requirements QA Officer Responsibilities Quality Assurance Meetings Memorandum For Record (MFR) Technical MFR Administrative MFR Non Conforming Event (NCE) Category C – Minor Event Category B – Serious Event Category A – Critical Event Laboratory Audits Work Process Audit Work Product Audit Monthly Reporting and Meeting Audit Reports Quality Assurance Meeting

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION Recognition of an individual by an independent body. Certification recognizes that an individual has acquired and demonstrated specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities in the standard practice practices necessary to execute the duties of their profession. Certification programs Written and/or practical testing Evaluation of training, experience, and education Continuing education requirement Adherence to a code of ethics

Accreditation vs. Certification Accreditation Forensic Science Service Providers Forensic Science Laboratories aka “Crime Laboratories” Typically a “location” or “office” Certification Recognition of an individual Not “tied” to a specific laboratory or location or office Very different programs that assess and evaluate Not interchangeable Both are very necessary to strengthen forensic sience

Certifying Bodies IAI International Association for Identification Latent print examiner Bloodstain pattern analysis Crime scene technician/analyst Footwear examiner Forensic artist Forensic photography

Certifying Bodies ABC American Board of Criminalistics Diplomate, General knowledge exam (GKE) Fellow, GKE plus specialty exam, experience and proficiency Forensic biology, drug chemistry, fire debris analysis, and trace analysis Technical specialist, specialty exam, experience, and proficiency Forensic molecular biology and drug chemistry

Certifying Bodies ABFDE American Board of Forensic Document Examiners Bachelor’s plus experience, examination ABFT American Board of Forensic Toxicologists Fellow, requires doctorate, experience, examination Diplomate, bachelor or master’s plus experience, examination

Certifying Bodies AFTE Association of Firearms and Toolmark Examiners Firearm, toolmark, and gunshot residue certifications FSAB – Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board Guidelines to ensure rigor of certifications

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