ASB Newsletter – November 7, 2025

The 78th Annual Scientific Conference of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences
Back to Basics: The Fundamentals of Forensic Science
February 9-14, 2026 - New Orleans, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Register now for the ASB Standards Workshop! 
W29: Yeah... We Have a Standard for That!
This interactive workshop will explore the history, implementation, and legal perspectives of forensic science standards. Attendees will learn how standards are developed and published, how they are adopted by crime laboratories, and how they are interpreted and assessed by the legal profession. The workshop will incorporate multiple learning modalities to actively engage participants and align the content with real-world forensic practice.

Sponsor the AAFS Standards Board (ASB) 10^th Anniversary Reception
Help us celebrate 10 years of the ASB! With a contribution of $2,000 or more, sponsors are offered the opportunity to host a table and attend the reception. This event offers a valuable two-hour window for our members to connect with each other-and, importantly, with you.  If you prefer to support the reception without setting up a table, contributions of $500 or more will be acknowledged with signage recognizing your support of the food and beverages provided during the event.(contact tambrosius@aafs.org for more information)

→ Register Now for AAFS 2026

ASB Documents Open for Public Comment

The ASB encourages all interested parties to provide comments on documents in progress.

The following documents are open for public comment:

• Recirculation* - ASB Std 032, Standard for a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst's Training Program, Second Edition (Comment Deadline, December 22, 2025)
• Recirculation* - ASB Std 076, Standard for Training and Certification of Canine Detection of Human Remains: Human Remains on Land (Comment Deadline, November 24, 2025)
• ASB TR 084, Presentation of Canine Detection Evidence in Court (Comment Deadline, November 10, 2025)
• ASB Std 086, Standard for Training and Certification of Canine Detection of Illicit Drugs (Comment Deadline, November 24, 2025)
• Recirculation* - ASB TR 097, Terminology Used for Forensic Footwear and Tire Evidence (Comment Deadline, November 10, 2025)
• Recirculation* - ASB Std 173, Standard for Education, Training, Continuing Education, and Certification of Forensic Toxicology Laboratory Personnel (Comment Deadline, December 22, 2025)
• Recirculation* - ASB Std 188, Standard for Processing Evidence for the Detection of Friction Ridge Impressions (Comment Deadline, December 8, 2025)
• Recirculation* - ASB Std 207, Standard for Collection and Preservation of Document Evidence (Comment Deadline, December 15, 2025)
• ASB Standard 223, Standard for the Medical Forensic Examination in the Clinical Setting (Comment Deadline, December 8, 2025)
• ASB BPR 232, Best Practice Recommendation for the Development of Criteria for Acceptance of a Request for Friction Ridge Examinations (Comment Deadline, November 10, 2025)

* Please note that comments on a recirculation will only be accepted on revised sections of a document, comments made to text not revised from the previous public comment period will not be accepted.

The documents and additional information on the ASB can be accessed through the ASB website  

Recently Published Standards

To date, the ASB has published over 130 Standards/Best Practice Recommendations and Technical Reports. All ASB standards can be accessed through the ASB site. The following documents are now available for download: 

• ANSI/ASB Standard 195, Standard for Scene Response: Initial Response by Scene Investigators, First Edition, 2025
  This document provides requirements for the activities and actions of an individual, however named, who is responsible for performing elements of a scene investigation, when responding to a scene, and the steps to be completed prior to conducting a scene search.
• ANSI/ASB Standard 198, Standard for the Technical Review of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Reporting, First Edition, 2025
  This document provides requirements for the reviewing of reports which contain results, interpretations, or opinions of anybody that is preparing a bloodstain pattern analysis report.

Project Initiation Notification

The following proposed new documents have recently been approved by the ASB for work:

• ASB Std 237-202x, Standard for the Expression of Opinions in Forensic Document Examination (new standard)
• ASB Std 238-202x, Standard for the Examination of Signatures (new standard)
• ASB BPR 240-202x, Best Practice Recommendation for Medicolegal Death Investigation Authorities in Locating and Notifying Next of Kin (new standard)

ASB Standards Included FIU Research Forensic Library

This library is a curated collection of publicly-accessible articles, reports, drug monographs, controlled substance notifications, historical documents, and other material relating to every discipline of the forensic sciences. The Library provides access to groundbreaking research and to historical articles, all available for free. There are currently over 7,600 articles and reports in the library, with more added every day. Visit the Library here! 

Checklists Available on Forensic Standards
These Checklists provide a tool to allow a forensic science service provider to evaluate the level of standard implementation and/or audit conformance to a standard.  Each checklist, provided in Excel, uses a standardized format that also allows flexibility when used. Checklists are in continuous production with more coming soon! Visit the AAFS Standards Resources and Training site to access the Checklists!

AAFS Factsheets on ASB, ASTM, and NFPA Standards Available
The AAFS Standards Factsheets provide a concise summary of each standard and facilitate broader understanding, they also highlight the purpose of a standard, why it is needed, and the benefits of adoption. Factsheets are in continuous production and more are coming soon. Visit the AAFS Standards Resources and Training site for more details!

Standards Webinars on AAFS Connect
AAFS Connect is the hub of digital forensic science content provided by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. AAFS Connect hosts conference workshops, presentations, webinars, educational training, and other resources. Webinars and updates on Forensic Standards are now available in the Standards Videos portion of AAFS Connect, free of charge. Visit the AAFS Educational Webinars page for more details!