Academy Standards Board
The Academy Standards Board develops consensus based forensic science standards within an American National Standards Institute accredited framework, and provides training to support those standards. Our work enhances the mission of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences to empower the forensic, criminal justice, and legal communities.
Call for Members ASB Consensus Bodies
The ASB is currently accepting applications for consensus bodies (Anthropology, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, CSI, DNA, Dogs and Sensors, Firearms and Toolmarks, Footwear and Tire, Forensic Document Examination, Forensic Nursing, Forensic Odontology, Friction Ridge, Mass Fatality Management and Disaster Victim Identification, Medicolegal Death Investigation, Toxicology, Wildlife Forensics).
Each CB consists of 7 to 25 members and creates and approves by consensus Forensic Standards, Best Practice Recommendations, Guidelines, and Technical Reports. The CBs also consider comments, views, and objections to ballots and resolve all comments received in connection with the development of documents. ASB CBs are open to all materially interested and affected individuals, companies, and organizations. All applications must be completed by August 1, 2025.
Standards make it possible to produce scientifically sound results on a global scale. Working and collaborating with ASB, we can make today's innovations tomorrow's standards as we strive to unite the sciences for justice.
- Kevin LothridgeStandards Resources and Training
Training, tools, and resources provided by the AAFS as funded by a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Documents Open for Comment
Standard for Scene Response: Initial Response by Scene Investigators
Standard for the Documentation and Processing of Shooting Scenes
Best Practice Recommendation for Determining What Scene and Death Locations a Medicolegal...
Published Standards
Standard for Identification Criteria in Forensic Toxicology
Standard for Mass Spectral Analysis in Forensic Toxicology
Scope of Expertise in Forensic Document Examination
Standard Method for the Examination and Documentation of Ammunition and Ammunition...
Get Involved
Help us continue to safeguard justice, integrity, and fairness with science-based consensus forensic standards.
Forensic Standards Training Opportunities
Resources available include the ASB's Style Manual used to develop ASB Standards, ANSI education and training, and video trainings.
Recent News from the ASB
New Forensic Toxicology Standard for the Testing of Blood in Impaired Driving...
