Texas Forensic Science Commission Advises Implementation of OSAC Registry Standards for Crime Laboratories

In a unanimous October 2019 decision, the Texas Forensic Science Commission recommended that all crime laboratories accredited to perform forensic analysis in the State of Texas voluntarily adopt the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) standards for forensic science. The Commission is the first regulatory body in the United States to recommend the implementation of these standards.

OSAC standards found on the OSAC Registry describe best practices, explain scientific protocols and define minimum requirements for the field. Each standard aims to ensure the reliability and reproducibility of forensic analysis results.

CSAFE partner Houston Forensic Science Center has already announced the laboratory will adopt these standards. CEO and President Peter Stout states that his team continuously seeks to improve the services provided to the community, and adopting these standards is the next step in the process.

NIST created OSAC in 2014 in partnership with the Department of Justice. The organization is comprised of roughly 560 members with expertise in 25 forensic disciplines, in addition to general expertise in scientific research, measurement science, statistics, law, and policy. At this time, 12 standards are available on the OSAC Registry, with more than 200 in development.