National Commission on Forensic Science-public review of policies and positions.
Dear Dr Middleton
The National Commission on Forensic Science has released six documents for public review and comment. These proposed policies and positions impact primarily federal forensic science agencies at present, but over time many are likely to become recognized best practices within forensic science, so it is critical that members of our organization and profession engage and participate in the public review process and provide feedback to the Commission to aid with its deliberations.
The documents are currently posted at www.justice.gov/ncfs/work-products and include:
- Draft Policy Recommendation on Discovery
- Draft Policy Recommendation on Universal Accreditation
- Draft Policy Recommendation on Expert Testimony
- Draft Views Document on Defining Forensic Science and Forensic Science Service Provider
- Draft Views Document on Scientific Literature in Support of Forensic Science and Practice
- Draft Policy Recommendation on Accreditation and Certification of Medicolegal Death Investigation Personnel
Please pay particular attention to the Draft Policies on Discovery and Expert Testimony as they have the most wide ranging consequences for most forensic science disciplines.
You can provide input and feedback directly to the Commission through the links on its website. The documents are also being reviewed by the members of the Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB) within the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) at NIST. If there is input you would wish me to share with that group, please copy me on your comments.
Barry K Logan PhD, F-ABFT
AAFS PAST PRESIDENT