Arizona Forensic Science Advisory Committee & Academy

Center for Forensics & Artificial Intelligence banner

Home > Center for Forensics & Artificial Intelligence > AFSAC

Arizona Forensic Science Advisory Committee & Academy

The statewide Forensic Science Advisory Committee was formed by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office in 2007 to help coordinate and improve forensic science services in Arizona. Crime laboratories in Arizona are funded and operated by different governmental agencies throughout the state, and the Advisory Committee provides a forum to collaborate on issues, concerns, and possible improvements relating to forensic science services. Members of the Advisory Committee include crime lab directors, forensic scientists, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and members of the public.

The Advisory Committee has worked to help measure and standardize forensic science practices throughout Arizona and to increase transparency in laboratory operations. The Advisory Committee also addresses legal and policy issues related to forensic science and provides interdisciplinary education. It has coordinated efforts to resolve inconsistencies in the types of reports and terminology used by various crime laboratories throughout the state, and the Committee has assisted in drafting legislation relating to preservation of biological evidence. Additionally, the Advisory Committee monitors issues and problems that arise in other states as well as recent court rulings relating to the use of forensic evidence in the courtroom. These types of topics are addressed in quarterly meetings to help ensure that Arizona labs continue to work together in a systematic way to improve forensic science services.

The Arizona Forensic Science Academy was established by the Advisory Committee in 2008. The Academy hosts both a basic and advanced forensic science academy that utilizes recognized local and national forensic science experts to jointly educate prosecutors and defense attorneys in forensic science disciplines. The Academy occurs each spring, consisting of a 4-hour session weekly over a period of 8 weeks.

The Academy also sponsors a speaker series that provides continuing education for forensic scientists. Attorneys, investigators and judges are invited to speaker series events as well. This has enabled scientists to satisfy CE requirements and legal professionals to gain CLE credits without having to travel to other states. The Academy has been recognized nationally as a model for how forensic science education can be provided to members of the criminal justice system and it is a source of great pride for the Advisory Committee.

Upcoming Events

Contact [email protected] for more details.

Date	Event Title
July 17, 2025 1-4 p.m.	*Topic: Navigating Forensic Testimony in a Post-Smith v. Arizona* World This session will cover the evolution of Confrontation Clause jurisprudence, as it has been applied to forensic and substitute analyst testimony, including an in-depth discussion of the 2024 Supreme Court case, Smith v. Arizona. This presentation will also explore practical considerations for laboratory professionals and current court interpretations of Smith v. Arizona, including how courts across the country have applied Smith to cases involving technical reviewers, batch processing, and instrument-generated raw data. Arizona Supreme Court, 1501 W. Washington Street, Room 101, Phoenix, Az 85007** from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. The cost is $30.00/person. To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/navigating-forensic-testimony-in-a-post-smith-v-arizona-world-tickets-1407807352689?aff=oddtdtcreator
July 17, 2025 9-11 a.m.	Topic: Presenting Forensic Evidence in the Courtroom This presentation will address the forensic expert’s role as a witness in a criminal prosecution, from grand jury and pretrial motions to trial testimony. Topics of discussion will include pretrial preparation, collaboration with legal counsel and law enforcement, general structure of a criminal trial, authentication of evidence, courtroom testimony tips, recurring themes in direct and cross examination, and legalese translations. Arizona Supreme Court, 1501 W. Washington Street, Room 119, Phoenix, Az 85007. The cost is $30.00/person. To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/presenting-forensic-evidence-in-the-courtroom-tickets-1407776941729?aff=oddtdtcreator
September 20 - November 8, 2024 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.	Basic Forensic Science Academy. The Forensic Science Academy will hold its 8 week basic course this fall. Cost is $300. The course is designed for lawyers but investigators and paralegals may apply, admission subject to space. The course will be offered in person for those in Maricopa County. Those outside of Maricopa County can attend virtually, with the exception of in person attendance required for the first and last sessions. Contact [email protected] to learn more.
April 30, 2024 9 a.m. - Noon	Forensic Science Academy Speaker Series: Investigative Genetic Geneology and Familial DNA Searching. Presenters, Jennifer Stone Randolph, DNA DOE Project; Amy Gerow, Arizona Department of Public Safety DNA Analyst. CE and CE credit available. Registration opens March 1, 2024. Cost $20. Registration Cap 50. To register click here: [coming soon]
January 17, 2024 9 a.m. - Noon	Forensic Science Academy Speaker Series: Exploring Opportunities for Improvement in the Forensic Sciences, A Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence (CSAFE) Presentation. Registration Open through January 12, 2024. Cost $15. To register click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arizona-forensic-science-academy-lecture-series-january-2024-event-tickets-780272485007?aff=oddtdtcreator
October 17, 2023 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Forensic Science Academy Speaker Series Events for Forensic Practitioners: Lessons Learned from False or Misleading Forensic Evidence in Wrongful Convictions. Dr John Morgan will discuss the results and lessons learned from a landmark study of 732 wrongful convictions which included analysis of 1,391 forensic examinations. To learn more or get the registration form, email [email protected]. Cost $30.
October 17, 2023 3 - 4:30 p.m.	CLE for Lawyers: Lessons Learned from False or Misleading Forensic Evidence in Wrongful Convictions. Dr John Morgan will discuss the results and lessons learned from a landmark study of 732 wrongful convictions which included analysis of 1,391 forensic examinations. To learn more or get the registration form, email [email protected]. Seating is limited to 40, no registration fee.

Date

Event Title

July 17, 2025

1-4 p.m.

Topic: Navigating Forensic Testimony in a Post-Smith v. Arizona World

This session will cover the evolution of Confrontation Clause jurisprudence, as it has been applied to forensic and substitute analyst testimony, including an in-depth discussion of the 2024 Supreme Court case, Smith v. Arizona. This presentation will also explore practical considerations for laboratory professionals and current court interpretations of Smith v. Arizona, including how courts across the country have applied Smith to cases involving technical reviewers, batch processing, and instrument-generated raw data. Arizona Supreme Court, 1501 W. Washington Street, Room 101, Phoenix, Az 85007 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. The cost is $30.00/person.

To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/navigating-forensic-testimony-in-a-post-smith-v-arizona-world-tickets-1407807352689?aff=oddtdtcreator

July 17, 2025

9-11 a.m.

Topic: Presenting Forensic Evidence in the Courtroom

This presentation will address the forensic expert’s role as a witness in a criminal prosecution, from grand jury and pretrial motions to trial testimony. Topics of discussion will include pretrial preparation, collaboration with legal counsel and law enforcement, general structure of a criminal trial, authentication of evidence, courtroom testimony tips, recurring themes in direct and cross examination, and legalese translations. Arizona Supreme Court, 1501 W. Washington Street, Room 119, Phoenix, Az 85007. The cost is $30.00/person.

To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/presenting-forensic-evidence-in-the-courtroom-tickets-1407776941729?aff=oddtdtcreator

September 20 - November 8, 2024

1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Basic Forensic Science Academy. The Forensic Science Academy will hold its 8 week basic course this fall. Cost is $300. The course is designed for lawyers but investigators and paralegals may apply, admission subject to space. The course will be offered in person for those in Maricopa County. Those outside of Maricopa County can attend virtually, with the exception of in person attendance required for the first and last sessions. Contact [email protected] to learn more.

April 30, 2024

9 a.m. - Noon

Forensic Science Academy Speaker Series: Investigative Genetic Geneology and Familial DNA Searching. Presenters, Jennifer Stone Randolph, DNA DOE Project; Amy Gerow, Arizona Department of Public Safety DNA Analyst. CE and CE credit available.

Registration opens March 1, 2024. Cost $20. Registration Cap 50. To register click here: [coming soon]

January 17, 2024

9 a.m. - Noon

Forensic Science Academy Speaker Series: Exploring Opportunities for Improvement in the Forensic Sciences, A Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence (CSAFE) Presentation.

Registration Open through January 12, 2024. Cost $15. To register click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arizona-forensic-science-academy-lecture-series-january-2024-event-tickets-780272485007?aff=oddtdtcreator

October 17, 2023

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Forensic Science Academy Speaker Series Events for Forensic Practitioners: Lessons Learned from False or Misleading Forensic Evidence in Wrongful Convictions. Dr John Morgan will discuss the results and lessons learned from a landmark study of 732 wrongful convictions which included analysis of 1,391 forensic examinations. To learn more or get the registration form, email [email protected].

Cost $30.

October 17, 2023

3 - 4:30 p.m.

CLE for Lawyers: Lessons Learned from False or Misleading Forensic Evidence in Wrongful Convictions. Dr John Morgan will discuss the results and lessons learned from a landmark study of 732 wrongful convictions which included analysis of 1,391 forensic examinations. To learn more or get the registration form, email [email protected]. Seating is limited to 40, no registration fee.