Recent News

Follow Us

Menu
Log in

MIDWESTERN ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC SCIENTISTS

Log in

News

<< First  < Prev   1   2   Next >  Last >> 
  • 12 Jan 2023 4:35 PM | Brian Clemons (Administrator)

    Greetings from the American Board of Criminalistics,

    We are convening a panel of Subject Matter Experts (SME) to determine the cut score on our new examination – Foundational Knowledge Exam (FKE). The cut score of an exam is the lowest score a test taker can get and still pass the examination. This exam was written to assess the competency of a person with at least one year of experience analyzing or processing evidence for a Forensic Science Service Provider (FSSP).  

    To help us determine the cut score, we are looking for experts who are involved in training new forensic scientists in any discipline of criminalistics and determining whether a trainee is competent in their respective discipline– e. g., hands-on part of training, evaluation of trainees for competence, etc. You do not need to be a supervisor or manager to participate. As a member of the panel, you will be asked to define a forensic scientist who is considered minimally competent and your experience as a trainer will be critical. If chosen, you will work on the panel with the guidance of a facilitator via Zoom. A person acting as a Security Liaison (SL) will be with you in-person to provide the materials you need and manage the security of the testing materials. You may be asked to travel a short distance to your SL’s location. Any travel expenses incurred will be paid by ABC.  If you are selected for the panel, you may not sit for the FKE examination for five years.

    Panelists who are ABC-certified will receive 3 point towards recertification; however, you do not need to be a current ABC certificant to participate. The panel discussion is anticipated to take approximately 8 hours, and there will be reading assigned in advance. Please take a moment to fill out the survey found via this link:

    Prospective Subject Matter Expert Survey


  • 6 Jan 2023 4:47 PM | Brian Clemons (Administrator)

    On Tuesday, August 22 through Friday, August 25, 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will be hosting an Advanced Fire Debris Analysis for the Forensic Chemist course.

    This course is designed for analysts working in public forensic laboratories with more than three years of experience in conducting fire debris casework. This course will expand upon the topics covered in the ATF’s Introductory Fire Debris Analysis for the Forensic Chemist course, providing additional tools and considerations for fire debris analysis, as well as introducing concepts in fire investigations. The Introductory class is not a prerequisite for the Advanced class.   There is no tuition for the course, but participant’s agency must cover all travel and per diem costs.

    If interested, please fill out the attached application and submit to the email listed on the bottom of the application. 

    The deadline for application submission is April 1, 2023.

    Application form - ATF Advanced Fire Debris Analysis Course 2023.pdf

  • 10 Dec 2022 10:19 AM | Brian Clemons (Administrator)

    The American Board of Criminalistics is in the process of developing a new exam, Seized Drugs Analysis. The first step to developing an exam is to create a Job/Task analysis in which experts, like you, get together and talk about how they do their job. We convened this panel at the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association annual conference in September and a panel of your peers developed what is called a DACUM chart outlining your day-to-day tasks. You will find this DACUM chart attached. (See Below)

    Now we need your help! As the second step to exam development, we must verify that the information captured in the DACUM accurately reflects the job that you are doing every day.  Please fill out the survey below and tell us if the activities described are important to your job and if so, how frequently you do them. This will ensure that we are developing an exam that will be relevant and reflective of the discipline.

    Seized Drugs Analysis Survey

    Thank you for your participation!


    Seized Drugs Analysis DACUM


  • 10 Dec 2022 10:17 AM | Brian Clemons (Administrator)

    Calling all Forensic Biologists! 

    As part of the ongoing maintenance of our Biological Evidence Screening and Forensic DNA examinations, the American Board of Criminalistics must periodically review our examination blueprints to ensure that our exams are relevant to the discipline.

    Please fill out the survey below and tell us if the activities described are important to your job and if so, how frequently you do them. At the start of the survey you will be given the opportunity to select your area of expertise. You may answer questions related to Biological Evidence Screening, Forensic DNA, or both. Please select the area(s) in which you have technical expertise.

    Forensic Biology Survey

    Thank you for your participation!


  • 7 Jul 2022 12:26 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Please see this flyer by the ASCLD Forensic Research Committee.

  • 30 May 2022 4:22 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The latest ABC Newsletter may be found here.

<< First  < Prev   1   2   Next >  Last >> 
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software