The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) announced 15 forensic laboratories as recipients of the Foresight Maximus Award, a distinction recognizing the top performing forensic laboratories in the world based on Foresight business metrics.
The 2023 Foresight Maximus award was presented to 15 participant laboratories operating at 90% or better of peak efficiency during the 2022 operational year.
These include:
• Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, Little Rock, AR
• Bexar County Criminal Investigation Laboratory, San Antonio, TX
• Chandler Police Department Forensic Service Section, Chandler, AZ
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Crime Lab, Charlotte, NC
• City of Tulsa Police Department Forensic Laboratory, Tulsa, OK • Denver Police Department Crime Laboratory, Denver, CO
• Forensic Science Department, Organismo de Investigación Judicial, San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia, Costa Rica
• Franklin County Coroner's Office, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Columbus, OH
• Idaho State Police, Meridian, ID
• Indiana State Department of Toxicology, Indianapolis, IN
• Midwest Regional Forensic Laboratory, Andover, MN
• Montana Forensic Science Division, Missoula, MT
• Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab, Lincoln, NE
• North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory, Shreveport, LA
• Pinellas County Forensic Lab, Largo, FL
“I want to extend my sincere congratulations to the Project Foresight award winners,” said ASCLD President Jennifer Naugle. “In the forensic science service provider world, stress and expectations are higher than ever, while resources and funding remain consistently low. It takes perseverance to remain efficient whilst also innovative. These top performing laboratories should be regarded as operations to be emulated by their peers as they uphold high standards of quality and productivity.”
Started in 2007 by a cooperative agreement between the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics and the National Institute of Justice, the Foresight program is a business-guided, self-evaluation of forensic science laboratories, which began with local, regional, state, and national agencies in North America. Over the years, the program has expanded to include forensic laboratories from around the world.
Economics, accounting, finance, and forensic faculty from WVU and Florida International University (FIU) provide assistance, guidance, and analysis. The process involves standardizing definitions for metrics to evaluate work processes, linking financial information to work tasks, and functions.
The program has grown over time and its success had led to numerous journal publications, countless laboratory efficiency improvements across the U.S. and a supplementary program with funding by the Laura and John Arnold foundation to examine the interface between Foresight metrics and Laboratory Information Management Systems.
Based on the success of the program and the gains seen by forensic laboratories, ASCLD has sought to begin recognizing peak performing laboratories at its Annual Symposium.
Republished courtesy of ASCLD.