somebody doing something

There are now two forensic science reform bills in Congress: Senator Patrick Leahy’s bill (the one everybody has been talking about for well over a year now) and Senator Jay Rockefeller’s bill, which was introduced last week. [Read more →]

After a myriad of coding problems and other issues, BulletPath is getting back on track.

A few months ago, the Attorney General of California released an opinion on proficiency testing in the state’s Forensic Alcohol Program that dealt a blow to the aspirations of the accreditation body of the crime lab directors, the American Society of Crime Lab Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB). [Read more →]

I found another couple of things that need some explanation from Elizabeth Lavach, the lobbyist for the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations.

The Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO) is a lobbying group that purports to “speak with a single forensic science voice” in representing “forensic science professionals across the United States.” [Read more →]

I dunno. But I bet we’ll know in about 60 to 90 days. [Read more →]

I have mentioned before that constantly letting things slide to justify getting what you want is particularly dangerous in the criminal justice system.

That slippery slope is particularly short for those who constantly skate too close to the line of what is legal- sometimes crossing it with reckless abandon- in their efforts to protect and serve their egos. [Read more →]

Founded in 1995 by the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD) with a mandate to “do good things”, the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) sounded like a good idea: develop quality services for all and deliver them for free or at low cost to public crime labs, all funded by the federal government. However, like other ASCLD endeavors, it quickly proved to be yet another opportunity for a few to hoard power and cash. [Read more →]

There have been the usual efforts by the usual suspects (the ASCLDs, the NFSTC, et al.) to claim that they are just as much in charge as usual, that they are firmly in control of everything, and, if anything, that they are gaining ground in their efforts to set the tone of what forensic science reform and the forensic science system will look like when all is said and done. [Read more →]

UPDATED- Updated to include the fact that Kevin Lothridge is also a past-president of ASCLD and provide links to the website of the Forensic Innovation Center.

OK… Let’s see if we can get some of this same-ness mapped out.

Let’s start with who’s who. [Read more →]

UPDATED, 10/03/2011- Someone from FQS contacted me to inform me that FQS has pulled out of the CFSO. The CFSO’s website has now been updated.

Things aren’t going so well for the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO), the lobbying group that represents the ASCLDs and their not-so-friendly friends. [Read more →]

Because all you are is a political football. That’s all you ever have been. You look great on a campaign poster, with your shiny badges and soot on your handsome faces. You should be used to this by now. But we’re going to try to change that. [Read more →]