NIST-DOJ Collaborative aims to strengthen forensic science.
Press Release Summary:
Part of a joint initiative by NIST and U.S. Department of Justice, Organization for Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science is seeking standards developing organizations that are currently or are willing to support development of standards for forensic science industry. OSAC fosters coordination, development, and promotion of technically sound, consensus-based documentary standards and guidelines that can be used to strengthen the practice of forensic science.
Original Press Release:
NIST-DOJ Collaborative Seeking Organizations That Develop and Support Forensic Science Standards
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Organization for Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) is seeking standards developing organizations (SDOs) that are currently or are willing to support the development of standards for the forensic science industry.
OSAC is part of a joint initiative by NIST and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with a mission to strengthen forensic science in the United States. The organization is a collaborative body of more than 500 forensic science practitioners and other experts who represent local, state, and federal agencies; academia; and industry. OSAC is organized into 33 operating units based on discipline and purpose. It fosters the coordination, development and promotion of technically sound, consensus-based documentary standards and guidelines that can be used to strengthen the practice of forensic science.
The launch of OSAC in February 2014 has led to an increase in demand for the development of forensic science standards within standards developing organizations. OSAC is seeking to establish a list of current or future SDOs that service the standards needs of the forensic science industry. This information will provide the OSAC units potential venues for their forensic science discipline-specific standards development activities.
To educate and better inform stakeholders about of the mission of OSAC, NIST is extending an invitation to participate in an OSAC-sponsored webinar, which is open to existing or prospective SDOs with involvement in forensic science–related documentary standards. The webinar —to be scheduled later this fall—will be broadcast to OSAC and will provide each SDO with an opportunity to share information about their organization, its structure, its standards development processes, and technical relevance.
Organizations that would like to be included in out outreach efforts can contact Karen Reczek, OSAC quality infrastructure chair, at karen.reczek@nist.gov.
