Accreditation: Laboratory

AbstractLaboratory accreditation enhances quality assurance programs in forensic science laboratories, promoting good forensic science practices, reliable techniques, and trustworthy expert opinion. Accreditation is now widely accepted in the United States as well as internationally. In some states, accreditation is a precondition to the judicial admissibility of expert opinion. This article reviews the history of accreditation in the United States and the accreditation programs offered by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB), including both the Legacy and the International programs. The framework for the accreditation programs is described, along with the processes and criteria necessary for achieving accreditation. Recognized as a safeguard for the public, accreditation plays an important role in the criminal justice system.