OSAC Registry Implementation

calling all Forensic science service providers! 

share your implementation status with us: access the electronic survey here or on your mobile device using the qr code below.

Why is Standards Implementation Important?

The practice of valid and reliable forensic science is a critical element of our system of justice. Forensic science standards set the bar for minimum practice to ensure reliability, build trust in forensic results, and simplify the playing field so that the most robust methods are used in the most consistent manner possible. 

From the classroom, to the crime scene, to the laboratory, to the courtroom, standards can have a huge impact – but only if they are used! OSAC encourages the forensic science community to implement the published and proposed standards on the OSAC Registry to help advance and improve the practice of forensic science. 

Stakeholder Support for Standards Implementation

The implementation of standards across the forensic sciences is a voluntary process. Therefore, OSAC relies on organizations to self-adopt the use of the standards on the OSAC Registry into their everyday practices and operations and voluntarily report this use. OSAC collects this implementation information to evaluate standards' effectiveness in practice and continually improve the national forensic landscape through the feedback that is received. 

Learn more about how these forensic science stakeholders are supporting and participating in the implementation of standards on the OSAC Registry:

• Forensic science service providers (FSSPs)
• Forensic science professional associations
• Academic institutions
• Legal community

Assessing the Impact of Standards Implementation

As more standards are being added to the Registry, OSAC wants to better understand how they are being used and the impact they are having on the forensic science community. 

In 2021 and 2022, OSAC disseminated a Registry Implementation Survey to assess the state of standards implementation. However, we soon recognized that number of FSSPs self-declaring implementation were surpassing the number of survey respondents. 

So, in 2023, OSAC moved to an "Open Enrollment" approach for collecting implementation data. This is intended to be a targeted time (typically during the summer season) when FSSPs can submit their standards implementation information on an annual cadence. 

OSAC encourages FSSPs to let us know if they are using standards on the OSAC Registry at any time! To make the process easier and improve on reporting metrics, we have established an electronic submission survey. You can access it through this survey link or the QR code here.  

We request that one implementation survey be submitted per FSSP location. For example, a state laboratory with multiple regional laboratories should submit one survey for each of its locations. If your organization has multiple locations, please contact forensics [at] nist.gov (forensics[at]nist[dot]gov) for guidance on the best way to proceed. You can also view these instructions and tips on how to complete the survey and see a list of standards on the OSAC Registry (Word version and Excel version). 

Implementation Data and Reports

• OSAC Registry Implementation Survey: 2021 Report
• OSAC Registry Implementation Survey: 2022 Report
• Measuring the Impact of Implementation: 2023

associated links

• OSAC Registry Implementers
• OSAC Registry Implementation Resources
• OSAC Registry Implementation Strategy Sessions Recap Report (August 2019)
• OSAC Registry Implementation Plan (published August 2018, editorial revisions November 2020)