OSAC Overview and CSI 

Subcommittee Update 

Michael P. Kessler

NE Division of the IAI

December 4, 2091
Forensic Science Landscape in U.S.

U.S. population of 327M | 50 States divided into 3007 counties:

• 409 Federal/State/Local Crime Labs

o 88% accredited (as of December 31, 2014)

• 18,000+ Law Enforcement Agencies

• 2,400+ Medical Examiner/Coroner Offices

• 2,300+ Prosecutor Offices

• 3,000+ Public Defenders Offices 

U.S. has NO 

forensic science 

owner!

2

**Data Sources: DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Statistics
Issues in Forensic Science

• Fragmented and inconsistent operations within and 

between jurisdictions

• Under resourced and understaffed labs

• Different types of practitioners with different levels 

of training and performance standards

• Lack of mandatory training, continuing education, 

certification, and accreditation programs

• Limited opportunities for research funding

• Lack of standards within and between disciplines

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OSAC’s Origin 

National Academy of 

Sciences (NAS) 

Report published: 

February 18, 2009

DOJ and NIST sign MOU to strengthen the 

nation’s use of forensic science through 

creation of National Commission on 

Forensic Science (NCFS) & Guidance 

Groups (later called OSAC): February 2013

NIST held first OSAC 

Subcommittee Meetings:

January 2015 

4

NIST announces 

creation of OSAC at 

NCFS: February 4, 2014
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Scientific Working Group Topic (Forensic Discipline) Years

SWGDAM DNA 27+

TWGDAM SWGDAM

SWGMAT Materials (Trace) 23

TWGFIBE SWGMAT

SWGFAST Friction Ridge (Fingerprints) 20

TWGFAST SWGFAST

SWGDRUG Controlled Substances 18

TWGDRUG SWGDRUG

SWGIT Imaging Technologies 18

TWGIT SWGIT

SWGDOC Document Examination 18

TWGDOC SWGDOC

SWGDE Digital Evidence 17+

SWGGUN Firearms & Toolmarks 17

SWGFEX Fire Debris & Explosives 17

SWGSTAIN Bloodstain Pattern 13

SWGTREAD Shoeprint & Tire Tread 11

SWGDOG Dog & Orthogonal Detector 11

SWGGSR Gun Shot Residue 8

SWGANTH Anthropology 7

SWGTOX Toxicology 6

FISWG Facial Identification 6

SWGDVI Disaster Victim Identification 5

SWGMDI Medicolegal Death Investigation 5

SWGGEO Geological Materials 4

SWGWILD Wildlife Forensics 4

SWGSPEAKER Voice Analysis 3

2007

1992

1995

1997

1997

1997

1998

2011

2012

1988

2008

2009

2009

2010

2010

2011

1998

1998

2002

2004

2004

Scientific Working Groups (SWGs) 

• Collectively, these 21 SWGs have had 

over 750 participants and produced over 

250 documents

• Most SWGs have ceased operations

• SWGDAM, SWGDE, SWGDRUG, & FISWG 

continue to operate

At least three other SWGs existed previously: 

SWGIBRA Illicit Business Records

SWGMGF Microbial Genetics and Forensics

SWGCBRN Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism

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To create a sustainable organizational infrastructure 

dedicated to identifying and fostering the 

development of technically sound, consensus-based 

documentary standards and guidelines for 

widespread implementation throughout the forensic 

science community

HARMONIZATION

BALANCE

CONSENSUS

OPENNESS
OSAC Stakeholders

• NIST

• The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)

• OSAC members (present and future)

• Forensic science service providers

• Academic institutions

• Representatives of the criminal justice system

• International and national standards development 

organizations (SDOs)

• Professional organizations (forensic science & 

others)

• Federal, state & local government agencies

• Non-government organizations (NGOs)

• Private sector manufacturers & service vendors 

supplying forensic service providers

• Quality system providers (accrediting & certifying 

bodies)

• The public

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To support it’s mission, OSAC collaborates with and supports a wide-range of stakeholders 

with varied interests:
OSAC’s Structure

• Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

• Scientific Area Committees (SACs) 

• Subcommittees (SCs)

• Resource Committees (RCs)

• Task Groups (TGs)

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Affiliates

As of October 31, 2018

Applications

States 

Represented

Task 

Groups

Members

OSAC Membership Snapshot

245

325

550+

2600+

48

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OSAC Employer & Job Classifications

19%

24%

1% 18%

19%

19%

Employer Classification

Academic Federal FFRDC Local Private State

2%

10%

1%

56%

2%

2%

17%

10%

Job Classification

Attorney Educator Judge

Practitioner QA Manager R&D Tech

Researcher Other

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What OSAC...

DOES DOESN’T

Publish standards

Have the authority to 

enforce standards 

Facilitates development 

of science-based 

standards through the 

formal SDO processes 

Evaluates existing 

standards published by 

SDOs for placement on the 

OSAC Registry

Endorses standards

on the Registry & 

promotes their 

implementation 

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OSAC Document Tiers

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1 2 3 4

• Documents on the 

OSAC Registry

• Approved by OSAC –

highest level of vetting

• OSAC supported 

standards published

by an SDO

• Completed SDO 

consensus process

• OSAC drafted 

standards sent to an 

SDO

• Drafted with input 

from RC and approved 

by SAC

• Under development

• Working draft 

document inside 

OSAC development 

process and not yet 

publicly available

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documents

63

documents

110 

documents

183

documents
OSAC Registry

• Trusted repository of high-quality, science-based 

standards and guidelines for the practice of forensic 

science

• Documents developed using a consensus-based 

process and pass a technical merit review by forensic 

science practitioners, academic researchers, 

statisticians and measurement scientists

• Adoption by relevant agencies and practitioners 

encouraged

https://www.nist.gov/topics/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensic-science/osac-registry

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OSAC Registry Approved Standards

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/organization-scientific-area-committees-osac/osac-registry/osac-approved

14

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documents
OSAC Registry Implementation Pathways

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• Self Implementation

• Professional Associations

• Legal Community

• Certification & Accreditation Bodies

• Funding Bodies

• State Forensic Science Commissions/

Regulatory Authorities

https://www.nist.gov/topics/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensic-science/implementation-plan
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OSAC Lexicon

• 4,000+ terms

• Organized by forensic discipline

http://lexicon.forensicosac.org/Term/Home/Index
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OSAC Website

www.nist.gov/osac
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How Can You Get Involved?

Sign up for OSAC 

communications Become an OSAC member

Review and comment 

on documents

Stay informed

https://www.nist.gov/topics/organizationscientific-area-committees-forensicscience/apply-join-osac

https://www.nist.gov/topics/organizationscientific-area-committees-forensicscience

https://service.govdelivery.com

/accounts/USNIST/subscriber/

new
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Crime Scene Investigation Subcommittee

Task Group Organization

CSI Subcommittee

Crime Scene Reconstruction 

Task Group

Collision Reconstruction Task 

Group

Response & Identification 

Task Group

Collection & Preservation 

Task Group

Documentation & Reporting 

Task Group Forensic Nursing Task Group Veterinary Forensic Sciences Task Group

Forensic Entomology Task 

Group
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Research & Development Needs

• Assessing the Culture of Contextual Bias in Forensic Scene Evidence Collection, 

Handling, and Processing

• Assessment of Level of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Required at Crime 

Scenes

• Decontamination of Crime Scene Equipment

• Laboratory Techniques and Technologies at the Crime Scene

• Use of Technology for Crime Scene Documentation

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/osac-research-development-needs
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Development Priorities

• Education, Training, Credentials

• Guiding Principles

• Methods
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Draft Standards in Development

• Standard for Crime Scene Investigation Guiding Principles

• Standard Guide for Crime Scene Reconstruction

• Standard Practice for the Documentation and Processing of Shooting Scenes

• Standard for Law Enforcement Response to Crime Scenes

• Standard Method for the Chemical Testing of Suspected Projectile Impacts

• Standard Method for Measuring Trajectory Angles

• Standard for the Collection and Preservation of Physical Evidence During Crime 

Scene Investigations

• Standard Collection and Preservation of Arthropod Samples from Humans or Other 

Animals
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New Standards Sent to SDO

Standard Practice for Crime Scene Investigator Training, Continuing Education, 

Professional Development, Certification, and Accreditation

• Sent to ASTM (Spring 2019)

• Received persuasive negatives votes upon initial ballot (Summer 2019)

• Became Annex to ASTM E2917-19a – Standard Practice for Forensic Science 

Practitioner Training, Continuing, Education, and Professional Development 

Programs 

• Reballoted at ASTM as Annex to E2917-19a (Fall 2019)

• Undergoing changes based on persuasive negative votes (currently)
ASTM E2917-

19a

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Highlights from Training & Education Draft Standard 

(as proposed)

Crime Scene Investigator (definition) - a forensic science practitioner whose 

responsibility is to use the appropriate combination of knowledge, skills, and 

experience to undertake one or more of the following tasks in relation to a crime 

scene investigation: documentation, search for or identify evidence, evidence 

collection, and preservation of evidence. 
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Highlights from Training & Education Draft Standard 

(as proposed - continued)

Education Requirement (proposed) 

• Associate’s Degree with at least 8 hours of physical science coursework.

• Current practical experience and acquired knowledge, skills, and abilities may 

be substituted when assessing whether a current practitioner meets the 

minimum educational requirement.

Continuing Education (proposed) 

• A minimum of 48 hours over the course of 2 years.

• Shall include external training.

• Responsibility of parent agency.

• Continuing education must be structured, measurable, and documented.
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Highlights from Training & Education Draft Standard 

(as proposed - continued)

Certification / Accreditation (proposed) 

• All CSIs certified/licensed or unit accredited.

• Certification/licensure within 2 years of meeting eligibility requirements.

• Accredited certification body.

• Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020 or ISO/IEC 17025 by accredited accrediting body.

• The crime scene unit, forensic service provider, and its parent agency shall provide 

funding, support, and opportunities for certification/licensure and/or accreditation
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Revised Standards Sent to SDO

E1843-16 Standard Guide for Sexual Assault Investigation, Examination, and Evidence

• Sent to ASTM for revision (Fall 2019)

• Currently on open ballot

E2123-16 Standard Practice for Transmittal of Evidence in Sexual Assault Investigation

• Sent to ASTM for revision (Fall 2019)

• Currently on open ballot

E2124-15 Standard Practice for Specification for Equipment and Supplies in Sexual Assault 

Investigation

• Sent to ASTM for revision (Fall 2019)

• Currently on open ballot
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Existing ASTM Standards in Registry 

Approval Process

E1459 – Standard Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related 

Documentation

• Virtual Subcommittee 8

E1188 – Standard Practice for Collection and Preservation of Information and 

Physical Items by a Technical Investigator

• Virtual Subcommittee 8

E1492 – Standard Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving 

Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory

• Virtual Subcommittee 8

E620 – Standard Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical 

Experts

• Virtual Subcommittee 8
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Existing ASTM Standards in ASTM Revision 

Process

E678 – Standard Practice for Evaluation of Scientific or Technical Data

E860 – Standard Practice for Examining And Preparing Items That Are Or May 

Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation

E1020 – Standard Practice for Reporting Incidents that May Involve Criminal or 

Civil Litigation
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Registry Approved (December 3, 2019)

ISO 21043-2 Forensic Sciences - Part 2: Recognition, recording, collecting 

transport and storage of items

• SCOPE- This document specifies requirements for the forensic process focusing on 

recognition, recording, collection, transport and storage of items of potential 

forensic value. It includes requirements for the assessment and examination of 

scenes but is also applicable to activities that occur within the facility. This 

document also includes quality requirements.
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Accessing Published Standards

ASB – public access (currently)

ASTM – free access via OSAC
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How Can You Get Involved?

Sign up for OSAC 

communications Become an OSAC member

Review and comment 

on documents

Stay informed

https://www.nist.gov/topics/organizationscientific-area-committees-forensicscience/apply-join-osac

https://www.nist.gov/topics/organizationscientific-area-committees-forensicscience

https://service.govdelivery.com

/accounts/USNIST/subscriber/

new
THANK YOU!

Michael P. Kessler

mkessler@fiu.edu

michaelpaulkessler@gmail.com