OSAC 2021‐N‐0039

Standard for a Mentorship

Program in Bloodstain Pattern

Analysis

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Subcommittee

Physics/Pattern Interpretation Scientific Area Committee (SAC)

Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science
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OSAC Proposed Standard

OSAC 2021‐N‐0039

Standard for a Mentorship Program in

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Prepared by  

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Subcommittee

Version: 2.1

December 2023

Disclaimer:

This OSAC Proposed Standard was written by the (subcommittee) of the Organization of Scientific

Area Committees(OSAC) for Forensic Science following a processthat includes an open comment

period. This Proposed Standard will be submitted to a standards developing organization and is

subject to change.  

There may be references in an OSAC Proposed Standard to other publications under

development by OSAC. The information in the Proposed Standard, and underlying concepts and

methodologies, may be used by the forensic‐science community before the completion of such

companion publications.

Any identification of commercial equipment, instruments, or materials in the Proposed Standard

is not a recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Government and does not imply that the

equipment, instruments, or materials are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

Version

No.

Issue Date Section Reason

2.0 April 5, 2022  ‐‐  Added to the OSAC Registry and publicly announced.

2.1 December 28, 2023 All Format and font updates only. No content changes made.
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Foreword

A bloodstain pattern analyst training program is necessary to ensure the competency and

quality of the work product. Mentorship is an essential element of a bloodstain pattern analyst

training program. This standard was drafted to provide guidance to forensic science service

providers for the establishment and maintenance of a bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA)

mentorship program.  

The draft of this standard was developed by the Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Subcommittee of

the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science.  

Keywords: bloodstain pattern analysis, mentorship
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Table of Contents

1 Scope .....................................................................................................................................5

2 Normative References........................................................................................................... 5

3 Terms and Definitions............................................................................................................ 5

4 Mentorship Components....................................................................................................... 6

5 Evaluation with Respect to Required Objectives ...................................................................6

6 Review and Examination of Completed Casework.................................................................7

8 Mentored Casework .............................................................................................................. 8

9 Courtroom Practices.............................................................................................................. 8

10 Criteria for Acceptable Performance .....................................................................................8

 
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Standard for Mentorship Program in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

1 Scope  

This document outlines the components of a mentorship program. Mentorship is an integral

component of a bloodstain pattern analyst training program. The mentorship program seeks to

ensure the competency of the analyst and evaluate the analyst’s ability to produce a quality work

product.

2 Normative References

ANSI/ASB Standard 032, Standard for a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst’s Training Program. 2020. 

1st. Ed. 

3 Terms and Definitions

3.1 Terms

3.1.1

shall

Used to indicate that a provision is mandatory (unless otherwise documented for non‐

compliance).  

3.1.2

should

Used to indicate that a provision is not mandatory but recommended as good practice.  

3.2 Definitions

For purposes of this document, the following definitions apply.  

3.2.1

active practitioner

An analyst actively involved in providing bloodstain pattern training and/or BPA casework and/or

performing technical reviews of BPA casework.  

3.2.2

bloodstain pattern analysis trainee  

An individual who is actively working toward meeting the requirements as described in ANSI/ASB

Standard 032, Standards for a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst’s Training Program. 2020. 1st. Ed.  
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3.2.3

competency

The demonstration of technical skills and knowledge necessary to perform forensic analysis

successfully.  

3.2.4

mentee

A bloodstain pattern analysis trainee participating in a mentorship program.  

3.2.5

mentor

An active practitioner who has a minimum of three years of casework experience as a bloodstain

pattern analyst.  

4 Mentorship Components

The forensic science service provider shall identify and assign an individual to serve as a mentor.

This assignment may occur at any time during the training program. The length of the mentorship

program may vary based upon the skills and abilities of the mentee.

4.1 A forensic science provider shall establish a documented mentorship program that

includes:  

a) Evaluation with respect to required objectives

b) Study and evaluation of completed casework

c) Mock casework

d) Mentored BPA casework

e) Courtroom practices  

f) Criteria for acceptable performance

5 Evaluation with Respect to Required Objectives

5.1 Prior to the trainee entering into a specific portion of the mentorship program, the

mentor shall evaluate relevant training records to ensure the successful completion of the

applicable minimum training requirements as outlined in section 4.2 of the Standards for a

Bloodstain Pattern Analyst’s Training Program.

5.2 If deficiencies are identified, the mentor shall document and communicate a

recommended remediation plan to the forensic science service provider.  
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5.3 The mentor may designate an active practitioner who meets the standards prescribed in

ANSI/ASB Standard 032, Standards for a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst’s Training Program. 2020.

1st. Ed., to assist with the mentorship program. Active practitioners may complete tasks such as

observing, documenting performance and providing guidance to the mentee.  

6 Review and Examination of Completed Casework

6.1 The mentor shall identify completed cases for the mentee to review and examine.  

6.1.1 The casesshould include a varied sampling representative of the range of difficulty of BPA

casework the mentee is likely to encounter and exposes the mentee to the limitations of

bloodstain pattern analysis.  

6.1.2 In aggregate, the case files to be reviewed should include the following components:  

a) Photographs

b) Notes, sketches, diagrams, etc.

c) Pattern characteristics and classification

d) Supporting reports (e.g., autopsy, DNA)

e) Additional documentation (e.g. interviews, 911 call, etc.)

f) Opinions/interpretations

6.2 The mentee shall review the completed cases with their mentor or active practitioner in

order to gain an understanding of the methodology and workflow process of a BPA investigation.

6.3 The examination of completed cases shall involve the mentee independently examining

and documenting part or all of a completed case, and preparing a written report of observations

and case conclusions.

6.3.1 The mentor shall evaluate and compare the mentee’s work product to the previously

completed cases.  

7 Mock Casework

Mock casework assessesthe mentee’s ability to appropriately document and classify the patterns

within a mock case, which was prepared using known mechanisms. Mock casework should be

representative of the range of BPA patterns the mentee is likely to encounter.  Mock casework

can be done in‐person or through remote means.

7.1 The mentee shall document, classify, and provide a written report of the reconstructed

events using BPA.
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7.2 The mentor shall evaluate and compare the mentee’s work product to the known

mechanisms used in the creation of the mock case for appropriate documentation and rendering

of case conclusions.  

8 Mentored Casework

Mentored casework assessesthe mentee’s ability to evaluate casesthat have not been previously

analyzed. Mentored casework can be done in person or through remote means. This is a critical

component of the mentorship and the main factor in determining the length of the program.  

8.1 In this component, the mentor shall conduct the analysis while the mentee observes the

case approach and evaluation. The mentee may take on defined responsibilities (e.g.,

documenting specific pattern types, articulating certain tasks to be performed).  

8.2 In subsequent cases, the mentee may conduct the analysis with supervised assistance

from the mentor. The mentee shall not be the author of the report.  

8.3 Mentored cases should reflect the range of BPA casework the mentee is likely to

encounter.  

9 Courtroom Practices

9.1 The mentee shall review BPA expert witness courtroom practices (e.g., the review of BPA

expert testimony transcripts, direct observation of BPA expert testimony).  

9.2 The mentor or active practitioner shall create a mock courtroom scenario where the

mentee demonstrates the ability to appropriately communicate their observations and case

conclusions, while testifying competently in a mock court setting.  

10 Criteria for Acceptable Performance

10.1 The mentor and forensic service provider shall establish standard criteria for the

successful completion of each component of the mentorship program. The forensic service

provider should establish procedures to address mentee errors and/or deficiencies.

10.1.1 The criteria shall be documented and cover the spectrum of anticipated tasks related to

BPA analysis.

10.1.2 The criteria should include the establishment of the length of the program based in part

on the number and range of cases/samples the mentee is likely to encounter.  

10.1.3 A mentee shall be evaluated on all components of BPA methodology, report writing and

courtroom testimony.