[DEC. 3, 2005]
SPRINGFIELD --
Illinois State Police Director Larry G. Trent announced Tuesday that
the Illinois State Police lab system has received accreditation from
Forensic Quality Services-International for compliance with the
standards of the International Organization for Standardization.
Bill Tillstone, executive director of Forensic Quality
Services-International, attended a ceremony at the Illinois State
Police Academy and made the presentation.
"This accreditation attests to the positive strides we're making in
Illinois to provide law enforcement, the judicial system and the
general public with forensic services that meet the highest of
standards," Trent said. "Due to the quality analytical work
performed, ISP Forensic Services Command are continually recognized
as leaders in the field of forensic sciences."
The standards
assessed by Forensic Quality Services-International were established
by the International Organization for Standardization to ensure that
vital features such as quality, safety, reliability, compatibility,
efficiency and effectiveness are met.
Forensic Quality
Services-International is the country's longest established
provider of International Organization for Standardization
accreditation to forensic science laboratories in the U.S. It is
also one of the accrediting bodies recognized by the National DNA
Index System Procedures Board and the only one that has successfully
completed the rigorous scrutiny of operations required by the
National Cooperation of Laboratory Accreditation.
The Illinois State Police Forensic Command is the largest
laboratory system in the United States to receive this
accreditation. In addition, the Illinois State Police was the first
laboratory system to be accredited in the United States and
worldwide in 1982 by the American Society of Crime Lab Directors
Laboratory Accreditation Board and has been reaccredited every five
years, with the most recent occurring in 2002.
The Illinois State Police director also announced that 17
forensic scientist trainees have recently joined the agency's
forensic science laboratories. The new personnel are part of Gov.
Blagojevich's continuing effort to increase the number of forensic
scientists employed to analyze the advanced technological caseload.
"One of the main goals of the ISP has always been to provide the
best-quality service and most expeditious analyses possible," Trent
said. "Law enforcement has taken a keen interest in DNA technology
and its use in solving crimes. The addition of these new scientists
helps to ensure that our lab system is able to meet the ever-growing
demands for forensic analysis."
The new scientists began on Oct 3 with a week of orientation and
then reported to their respective training facilities. Forensic
scientist trainees receive comprehensive instruction in the use of
the most advanced science technology and procedures for analyzing
evidence. The length of training programs varies with the forensic
disciplines and can continue for another one to two years.
The trainees will be assigned to
laboratories in Chicago, Joliet, Springfield and Carbondale and
specialize in the following forensic disciplines:
(Discipline, number of trainees)
Biology-DNA, 7
Latent prints, 4
Drug chemistry, 3
Trace evidence, 2
Forensic toxicology, 1
As forensic scientist trainees, the individuals will:
Receive work assignments designed to develop knowledge,
understanding and technical skills related to one of the
specialty areas.
Receive instruction and demonstrate proficiency in the
various examinations, techniques and instrumentation used in the
assigned specialty area.
Observe courtroom procedures and courtroom demeanor.
Participate in mock trials.
Upon completion of the required training, the forensic scientist
trainees will be certified by the Illinois State Police lab system,
one of the most respected lab systems in the world.
"I'd like to congratulate all the personnel in the Forensics
Science Command for their hard work in obtaining the ISO
accreditation and extend a sincere welcome to the new personnel who
recently joined the ISP," Trent said.
The Illinois State Police currently has nine forensic
laboratories, located in Carbondale, Chicago, Joliet, Metro East,
Morton, Rockford, Springfield and Westchester.
