OSAC 2021-N-0039

Standard for a Mentorship 

Program in Bloodstain 

Pattern Analysis

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Physics/Pattern Interpretation Scientific Area Committee (SAC)

Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science
OSAC 2021-N-0039, Standard for a Mentorship Program

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Draft OSAC Proposed Standard

OSAC 2021-N-0039

Standard for a Mentorship Program in 

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Prepared by 

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Subcommittee

Version: 1.0

September 2021

Disclaimer:

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

Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science following a process that 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.
OSAC 2021-N-0039, Standard for a Mentorship Program

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2 Standard for a Mentorship Program in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

3 Foreword

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

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

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

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

8 mentorship program. 

9

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

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

12 Keywords: Bloodstain pattern analysis, mentorship

13 1 Scope

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

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

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

17 product. 

18 2 Normative References 

19 Standard for a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst’s Training Program, ANSI/ASB Standard 032, 1st Ed. 

20 2020 

Standard for Report Writing in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, ANSI/ASB Standard 031, 1st 21 Ed. 

22 2020

23 3 Terms and Definitions

24 3.1 Terms

25 The following terms are meant to convey the meanings specified. 

26 3.1.1

27 Shall - Used to indicate that a provision is mandatory (unless otherwise documented for non28 compliance).
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29 3.1.2

30 Should - Used to indicate that a provision is not mandatory, but recommended as good practice.

31 3.2 Definitions

32 For purposes of this document, the following definitions apply.

33 3.2.1

34 active practitioner - An analyst actively involved in providing bloodstain pattern training and/or 

35 BPA casework and/or performing technical reviews of BPA casework.

36 3.2.2

37 bloodstain pattern analysis trainee - an individual who is actively working toward meeting the 

38 requirements as described in this document

39 3.2.3

40 competency – the demonstration of technical skills and knowledge necessary to preform forensic 

41 analysis successfully.

42 3.2.4

43 mentor - an analyst active in the field of BPA (as indicated through ongoing training, casework, 

44 and/or technical reviews) and who has a minimum of three years of casework experience as a 

45 bloodstain pattern analyst.

46 4 Mentorship Components

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

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

49 mentorship program may vary based upon the skills and abilities of the bloodstain pattern 

50 analysis trainee.

51 4.1 A forensic science service provider shall establish a documented mentorship program that 

52 includes:

53 A. Evaluation with respect to required objectives

54 B. Study and evaluation of completed casework

55 C. Mock casework

56 D. Mentored BPA casework

57 E. Courtroom practices

58 F. Criteria for acceptable performance
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59 5 Evaluation with Respect to Required Objectives

60 5.1 Prior to the trainee entering into a specific portion of the mentorship program, the mentor 

61 shall evaluate relevant training records to ensure the successful completion of the applicable 

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

63 Pattern Analyst’s Training Program. 

64 5.2 If deficiencies are identified, the mentor shall document and communicate a recommended 

65 remediation plan to the forensic science service provider.

66 6 Review and Examination of Completed Casework

67 6.1 The mentor shall identify completed cases for the trainee to review and examine.

68 6.1.1 The cases should include a representative sampling of typical BPA casework (e.g., 

69 homicide, suicide, blunt force trauma, etc.) the trainee is likely to encounter.

70 6.1.2 In aggregate, the case files to be reviewed should include the following components:

71 A. Photographs

72 B. Notes, sketches, diagrams etc.

73 C. Pattern characteristics and classification

74 D. Supporting reports (e.g., autopsy, DNA)

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

76 F. Opinions/interpretations

77 6.2 The trainee shall review the completed cases with their mentor or active practitioner in order 

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

79 6.3 The examination of completed cases shall involve the trainee independently examining and 

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

81 case conclusions.

82 6.3.1 The mentor shall evaluate and compare the trainee’s work product to the previously 

83 completed cases.

84 7 Mock Casework

85 Mock casework assesses the trainee’s ability to appropriately document and classify the patterns 

86 within a mock case, which was prepared using known mechanisms. Mock casework can be done 

87 in-person or through remote means.

88 7.1 The trainee shall document, classify, and provide a written report of the reconstructed events 

89 using BPA
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90 7.2 The mentor shall evaluate and compare the trainee’s work product to the known mechanisms 

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

92 conclusions.

93 8 Mentored Casework

94 Mentored casework assesses the trainee’s ability to evaluate cases that have not been previously 

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

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

97 8.1 In this component, the mentor shall conduct the analysis while the trainee observes the case 

98 approach and evaluation. The trainee may take on defined responsibilities (e.g., documenting 

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

100 8.2 In subsequent cases, the trainee may conduct the analysis with supervised assistance from the 

101 mentor. The trainee shall not be the author of the report.

102 9 Courtroom Practices

103 9.1 The trainee shall review BPA expert witness courtroom practices (e.g. the review of BPA 

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

105 9.2 The mentor or an active practitioner shall create a mock courtroom scenario where the trainee 

106 demonstrates the ability to appropriately communicate their observations and case conclusions, 

107 while testifying competently in a mock court setting. 

108 10 Criteria for Acceptable Performance

109 10.1 Criteria for successful completion of each component of the mentorship shall be established 

110 by the mentor and forensic science service provider. 

111 10.1.1 The criteria shall be documented and cover the spectrum of anticipated tasks related to 

112 BPA analysis.

113 10.2 A trainee shall be evaluated on all components of BPA methodology, report writing and 

114 courtroom testimony.