Implementation Success Stories

Houston Forensic Science Center, Jackie Moral, Quality Director: 

The implementation of OSAC Registry standards has benefited HFSC by standardizing our technical procedures with best practices in the forensic science field. We have discovered gaps or blind spots in our training programs and technical processes through the implementation of these standards, which otherwise would not have been identified. Following these best practices has enhanced our analyst’s credibility when testifying in court.

Kentucky State Police Central Forensic Laboratory, Jeremy Triplett, Director:

In the decade since its beginning, the Organization of Scientific Area Committees has drawn upon tens of thousands of hours of insight, perspective, and diligent work from hundreds of forensic scientists across the globe to evaluate forensic standards and best practices and facilitate improvements, where needed. The collaborative work between forensic science discipline experts and subject matter experts from the quality, statistics, and legal communities has generated the OSAC Registry that represents the “best of the best” in forensic practice.

 

 

At the Kentucky State Police Forensic Laboratories, we have committed to implementing standards on the OSAC Registry, wherever practicable. Not only does this ensure we are using the most highly vetted, rigorous standards, but it also honors the work put forth by the forensic community in this huge endeavor.

 

 

The value that the OSAC Registry offers is a work product that’s driven by forensic scientists and informed by expert stakeholders from all 50 states and abroad. Forensic laboratories should consider implementing that work product, where practical. The result is not only rigorous forensic practice, but also a respect for the substantial investment made by forensic scientists over the last decade.

Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory, Heather Greco, Quality Manager:

Implementing OSAC Registry standards has provided us with a tool to evaluate and improve standardization across all disciplines, which in turn enhances the quality and reliability of the forensic services we provide to our customers. OSAC implementation has also allowed us to communicate to stakeholders that the laboratory recognizes the value of standards and guideline implementation. Overall, embracing OSAC standards has supported the laboratory’s commitment to providing an impartial, defect-free service to all customers.

Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory, Karley Hujet, Latent Prints/Footwear Technical Unit Leader: 

Experiencing OSAC implementation success, the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories Latent Prints/Footwear Unit (LP/FW) credits 2023 full implementation of ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 144 (BPR for the Verification Component in Friction Ridge Examination) for providing an additional quality assurance mechanism in situations where there is a greater risk of error as per 4.3.3 of the BPR. Specifically, an additional verification is now required for single identifications to an individual that is the result of an MBIS search if that individual was not previously associated with the case. Additionally, the ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendations 021, 049, 052, & 126 (various Footwear BPRs) were fully implemented in 2021, 2022, and 2023. These best practice documents provided additional support and background information to WSCL LP/FW procedures for FW impression evidence detection and collection, FW impressions lifting and casting, and test impressions preparation.

More from Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory, Eva M. L. King, Quality Assurance Director:

Since OSAC’s inception ten years ago, the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories have been greatly affected by constructive and very helpful influence not only by the standards that are present on the OSAC Registry but by the great support and leadership of the OSAC Program Office (OPO). The OPO has provided the assistance to understand the OSAC vision, to grow in knowledge of Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) and standards, and to reassure that Wisconsin’s path to standards implementation is not Wisconsin’s alone. This wonderful service that was not available to the WSCL ten years ago has proven to be a part of the foundational care necessary for standards implementation efforts and provided the strong and consistent messages that help motivate and strengthen staff on the journey.

 

 

The WSCL is a part of an organization that is committed to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for all employees. Since embarking on the standards implementation journey with OSAC another form of DEI is present. Staff have come together, united under the standards’ umbrellas, and built a strong camaraderie. Offers of advice, mentorship, and other services from OPO/OSAC Cohort/OSAC committee and subcommittee allow WSCL staff an opportunity to agree on some practices that were not in agreement prior to OSAC’s inception. With three different laboratories, diverging and different practices for similar outcomes were not foreign within the Wisconsin system; however, since OSAC’s inception, Wisconsin has received great support from the OSAC to achieve goals of a quality plan that has brought a vibrant workforce of diversity together who continue to put forth Declarations that Encourage and Inspire (DEI) now and for decades to come.

Also from Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory, Sandra Koresch, former Controlled Substances Technical Leader, current Deputy Quality Assurance Director:

Even as we implemented standards that we were already complying to, going through the standards as a group led to good discussion about how we met them and why. It also allowed us opportunity to discuss areas that could be improved.

Danish National ID Centre:

The Danish National ID Centre has achieved a significant milestone in the field of forensic science, earning recognition from the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science. This acknowledgement comes as a result of the center’s commitment to embracing facial identification standards, marking a crucial development in their standard operating procedure. 

The implementation of facial identification standards has played a pivotal role in refining the accuracy and quality of the center’s forensic procedures. This precision has become a hallmark of their practices, where the standards have successfully been operationalized directly into the standard operating procedures through the development of checklists and documented records of observation.

Embracing facial identification standards has significantly elevated the Danish National ID Centre's forensic science practices, ensuring transparency and uniformity in casework. This dedication to precision and quality led to recognition by the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science, underscoring the center’s commitment to excellence and reinforcing their reputation for reliable facial comparison methodologies.