FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Oct. 2, 2006
Contacts:
Dave Wellman, Director of Communications (304) 696-7153
Mary Thomasson, Marshall University Forensic Science Center (304) 690-4363 ext. 207
 

Marshall University Forensic Science Center
sponsors American Society of Crime Lab Directors Symposium

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Forensic Science Center is sponsoring the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors’ 34^th Annual Workshop and Symposium, a national meeting this week in San Francisco addressing current issues impacting forensic laboratories.

Marshall President Stephen J. Kopp, along with three other speakers, will kick off the symposium with welcome and opening remarks between 8 and 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3. The other opening speakers are ASCLD President W. Earl Wells, laboratory director of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Columbia, S.C.;  President-elect William E. Marbaker, assistant director of the Crime Laboratory Division, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Jefferson City, Mo; and National Institute of Justice Acting Director Glenn R. Schmitt, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

The meeting, entitled “Practical Issues Facing Crime Laboratory Managers: Managing the Technical Side of Forensics,” is at the San Francisco Marriott. Workshops were conducted Sunday and today, and the symposium is Tuesday through Thursday.

The program includes information on pertinent issues and training for laboratory directors, administrators and policy makers.  The meeting will provide updates on federal legislation and grants, recent court decisions, technical working groups and other issues that impact crime laboratories.

Topics of discussion include case backlogs that cause significant delays in evidentiary analysis, which directly impact the investigation and solving of crimes and causes delays in the courts. Delays can affect the prosecution of the criminal and exoneration of the innocent.

The Forensic Science Center is sponsoring the workshops and symposium in support of the national forensic science community as a member of the Forensic Resource Network, a program of the NIJ. The Forensic Science Center provides DNA testing and training services in support of state and local forensic laboratories and medical examiners though a cooperative agreement administered by the NIJ. DNA laboratory services provided in support of reducing backlogs include forensic casework, databasing, paternity/relationship testing and human identification through medical examiners.

ASCLD is a nonprofit professional society of crime laboratory directors and forensic science managers dedicated to providing excellence in forensic science through leadership and innovation. The purpose of the organization is to assist in the development of laboratory management principles and techniques; disseminate forensic information; maintain and improve communications among crime laboratory directors; and to promote, encourage and maintain the highest standards of practice in the field.

This project was supported by cooperative agreement 2005-MU-BX-K020.awarded by the NIJ, Office of Justice Program, U.S. Department of Justice.  The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this symposium are those of ASCLD and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice.

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