West Virginia State Police Forensics Laboratory Awarded Certificate of Accreditation

SOUTH CHARLESTON – On August 3, 2005, the West Virginia State Police Forensics Laboratory was awarded continued accreditation by the American Society of Crime Laboratories Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB).

The Crime Laboratory Accreditation Program of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board is a voluntary program in which any crime laboratory may participate to demonstrate that its management, operations, personnel, procedures, equipment, physical plant, security, and personnel safety procedures meet established standards. Accreditation is granted for a period of five years provided that the laboratory continues to meet ASCLD/LAB standards.

In February 2005, members of the ASCLD/LAB board visited the laboratory and conducted a thorough inspection of the laboratory conditions, staff and case file records. As a result of the various inspections, the West Virginia State Police Forensics Laboratory was accredited in the disciplines of controlled substances, toxicology, trace evidence, biology, firearms/toolmarks, questioned documents and latent prints.

A ceremony will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2005, at 1:00pm at the West Virginia State Police Department Headquarters. Peter M. Marone, Director of Technical Services for the Virginia Division of Forensic Science, will be on hand to present the accreditation certificate. Mr. Marone is currently a member of the ASCLD/LAB board and on the Forensic Education Program Accreditation Commission for the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

The West Virginia State Police Forensics Laboratory was first awarded accreditation in 1994 and has maintained its accreditation since that time.

Captain Ted Smith, Director of Forensic Laboratory receives
updated ASCLD Certification from Peter M. Marone.

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