ASTM, NIST, OSAC offer free access to forensic science standards.
Press Release Summary:
Agreement involving ASTM International, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science enables ~30,000 public criminal justice agencies to receive free access to forensic science standards. Effective last week, contract supports access to near 50 standards – guides, practices, test methods, and more – developed by ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Science to aid forensics-related activities.
Original Press Release:
Thousands of Police Officers, Public Defenders, Labs, and Others Gain Free Access to Forensic Science Standards
About 30,000 public criminal justice agencies can now receive free access to forensic science standards through a new agreement involving ASTM International, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science.
The contract, effective last week, supports access to nearly 50 standards developed by ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Science. This includes guides, practices, test methods and more to help with many forensics-related activities: sexual assault investigations, analyzing illegal drugs, labeling physical evidence, computer forensics, and more.
“This is a unique and powerful way to both involve and support the hardworking people in the U.S. criminal justice community,” said Jeff Grove, vice president of global policy and industry affairs at ASTM.
“NIST wants to help ensure that the forensic science standards-development process includes input from across the criminal justice community,” said John Paul Jones II, associate director of OSAC affairs at NIST and an ASTM member. “Consensus-based forensic science standards are a crucial pillar in support of safety, fairness, and justice.”
Those eligible for free web-based access to the standards include:
•Â OSAC members and affiliates (approximately 750 people)
•Â NIST and federal, state, and local crime labs (approximately 412 labs)
•Â Public defenders offices (approximately 6,000 offices)
•Â Law enforcement agencies (approximately 18,000 offices)
•Â Prosecutor offices (approximately 3,000 offices)
•Â Medical examiners and coroners offices (approximately 3,000 offices)
These groups will have access to all E30 standards, including those in the OSAC Registry of Approved Standards or Registry of Approved Guidelines.
Public sector criminal justice agency employees in the above groups can find more information at this link and must register using their government email address. ASTM International retains the copyright for these standards. Users must comply with its user agreement.
The contract includes one base year with an option to extend for an additional year.
ASTM welcomes participation in the development of E30 and other standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN.
Media Inquiries:
Nathan Osburn
tel +1.610.832.9603
nosburn@astm.org
ASTM Staff Contact:
Christine DeJong
tel +1.610.832.9736
cdejong@astm.org
