OSAC Standards Bulletin 1 November 2018

BULLETIN SUMMARY

This Bulletin provides an update on forensic science standards that are moving through the development 

process at standards developing organizations (SDOs), and those that are moving through the Registry 

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

Please consider providing comments on documents that are open for comment.

OSAC Registry Standards open for comment: 2 Items

SDO Documents open for comment: 14 Items

OSAC REGISTRY NEWS

Intent to Add to the OSAC Registry – Items Open for Comment 

ANSI/ASB Standard 017, Standard Practices for Measurement Traceability in Forensic Toxicology, 

First Edition, 2018

Read the standard or submit a comment by 11:59 PM EST on December 16, 2018. 

ASTM E3149-18 Standard Guide for Facial Image Comparison Feature List for Morphological Analysis

Read the standard or submit a comment by 11:59 PM EST on December 16, 2018.

Standards Moving Through the OSAC Registry Approval Process 

This section only lists standards that moved from one step in the OSAC Registry Approval Process to another 

during the last month. A list of all standards currently under consideration is available on the OSAC website.

ADA 1058-2010D Forensic Dental Data Set moved to Standards at FSSB for Vote.

ADA 1088-2017D Human Identification by Comparative Dental Analysis moved to Standards at FSSB 

for Vote.

OSAC Draft Standards Submitted to Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) 

OSAC developed the following draft standards and has submitted them to SDOs for formal development:

The following draft standards were submitted to ASTM International:

OSAC Standards Bulletin

November 2018
OSAC Standards Bulletin 2 November 2018

Crime Scene Investigation:

• Standard Practice for Crime Scene Investigator Training, Continuing Education, Professional Development, Certification, and Accreditation

STANDARDS DEVELOPING ORGANIZATION (SDO) NEWS

Comment Period Open on Draft Documents 

American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Standards Board (ASB): 

Re-circulation* – ASB Best Practice Recommendation 021, Best Practices for the Preparation of Test 

Impressions from Footwear and Tires, First Edition (Comment Deadline, December 24, 2018)

Re-Circulation* – ASB Standard 011, Scope of Expertise in Forensic Document Examination, First Edition (Comment Deadline, December 10, 2018)

Re-circulation* – ASB Standard 019, Wildlife Forensics General Standards, First Edition (Comment 

Deadline, November 26, 2018)

Re-circulation* – ASB Standard 022, Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs, First Edition (Comment Deadline, November 19, 2018)

ASB Standard 028, Wildlife Forensics Morphology Standards, First Edition (Comment Deadline, November 26, 2018)

Re-circulation * – ASB Standard 029, Report Writing in Wildlife Forensics, First Edition (Comment 

Deadline, November 26, 2018)

Re-circulation* – ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, First Edition (Comment Deadline, November 19, 2018)

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

ASB Standard 054, Standard for a Quality Control Program in Forensic Toxicology Laboratories, First 

Edition (Comment Deadline, December 24, 2018)

ASB Standard 088, General Guidelines for Training, Certification, and Documentation of Canine Detection Disciplines, First Edition (Comment Deadline, December 24, 2018)

ASB Standard 044, Standard for Examination of Documents for Indentations, First Edition (Comment 

Deadline, December 10, 2018)

ASB Standard 045, Standard for Stature Estimation in Forensic Anthropology, First Edition (Comment 

Deadline, December 10, 2018)

ASB Standard 077, Standard for the Developmental and Internal Validation of Forensic Serological 

Methods, First Edition (Comment Deadline, November 19, 2018)

ASB Technical Report 097, Terminology Used for Forensic Footwear and Tire Evidence, First Edition 

(Comment Deadline, December 3, 2018)
OSAC Standards Bulletin 3 November 2018

ASB Standard 099, Standard for Footwear/Tire Examination Proficiency Testing Program, First Edition 

(Comment Deadline, December 3, 2018)

Please visit the Notification of Standard Development and Coordination area of the AAFS Standards 

Board website to view the draft document and to provide comments. Please send any questions 

to asb@aafs.org.

New Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards

American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) Standards Board (ASB):

• Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 20, in ANSI Standards Action on 

November 2, 2018. This will begin a 30-day period for public comment on the initiation of the ASB’s 

work on the documents listed below: 

BSR/ASB BPR 089-201x, Best Practice Recommendation for Facial Approximation in Forensic 

Anthropology (new standard). This best practice recommendation sets forth guidance for facial 

approximation from skeletal remains. The production and assessment of facial approximations 

using skeletal remains represents a combination of varied methods of art and anatomical science that continue to evolve. Therefore, recommendations for specific techniques are not addressed. Facial imaging procedures such as composite drawings and postmortem imaging from 

photographs are not addressed.

• Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 17, in ANSI Standards Action on 

November 9, 2018. This will begin a 30-day period for public comment on the initiation of the ASB’s 

work on the documents listed below: 

BSR/ASB Std 105-201x, Minimum Education Requirements for Firearm and Toolmark Examiner 

Trainees (new standard). This document provides the minimum education requirements for forensic laboratory employees entering a training program in firearm and toolmark examination. 

This document does not apply to previously trained and qualified firearm and toolmark examiners who may be temporarily referred to as trainees when they change employment.

• Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 13, in ANSI Standards Action on 

October 19, 2018. This will begin a 30-day period for public comment on the initiation of the ASB’s work 

on the documents listed below: 

BSR/ASB BPR 108-201x, Forensic Odontology in Disaster Victim Identification: Best Practice 

Recommendations for the Medicolegal Authority (new standard). This document provides best 

practices for the deployment of a forensic odontology team in a mass fatality incident. It delineates proper protocols, equipment, hardware, and software requirements, as well as command 

structure for the deployment of this team as part of the entire disaster victim identification operation.

BSR/ASB Std 062-201x, Standard for Topography Comparison Software for Firearm and Toolmark Analysis (new standard). This document specifies the minimum requirements for computer 

software intended to compare 2D and/or 3D digital representations of toolmarks. It covers necessary conditions for consistent and interpretable comparisons.
OSAC Standards Bulletin 4 November 2018

New Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards

ASTM International E30.01 Criminalistics

WK65720 - Standard Guide for Sexual Assault Investigation, Examination, and Evidence 

Collection is a work item revision to existing standard E1843-16.

New or Revised Standards

ASTM International E30.01

E3150-18 Standard Guide for Forensic Audio Laboratory Setup and Maintenance 

American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) Standards Board (ASB):

ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 010-2018, Forensic Anthropology in Disaster Victim Identification: Best Practice Recommendations for the Medicolegal Authority (new standard)