American Academy of Forensic Sciences

The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) is a non-profit, professional organization founded in 1948 in an effort to improve the effectiveness of justice through the application of scientific expertise to the legal process, evidence gathering, and crime investigation. AAFS is also dedicated to educating the law enforcement, legal, and scientific communities about the many scientific disciplines that have given rise to modern forensic science , and the application of scientific forensic techniques. The term forensic means "pertaining to the forum" (e.g., to a legal public court of justice). The forensic sciences, therefore, apply the knowledge of a variety of scientific disciplines to achieve optimum accuracy in legal investigations and the establishment of sound evidence to be used in civil legal disputes or in criminal courts. AAFS has achieved international prestige and recognition, presently counting more than 5,600 members from 50 different countries worldwide. These professionals represent different fields of expertise such as medicine (legal medicine, public health, autopsy , toxicology , pathology , epidemiology , genetics, infectious disease), physical anthropology , jurisprudence, criminology , sociology, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, molecular biology, chemistry, engineering, education, archeology, geology , and odontology . Additionally, other persons with technical expertise, such as document analysis and graphology, are important members of the forensic sciences community.

AAFS is dedicated to the promotion of training programs for professionals, the exchange of information among the scientists of the above disciplines, the development of new forensic techniques, the advancement of forensic sciences, the support of new research, and the development of emerging forensic techniques and disciplines. Among the latter, examples are techniques involving photography superposition, forensic skull reconstruction, computer image enhancing, voice and diction analysis, account auditing, and improved polygraph examinations. Another AAFS goal is to preserve and impart ethical standards of professional conduct among its members.

AAFS publishes the Journal of Forensic Sciences, and holds an annual scientific meeting along with several regional seminars. The Academy also provides educational information to the general public and to those considering pursuing a career in one of the many fields of the forensic sciences. Programs of continuing education and accreditation in forensics for professionals and college graduates are another service under the responsibility of the following AAFS sections: criminalistics , engineering sciences, general, jurisprudence, odontology, pathology and biology, physical anthropology, psychiatry and behavioral science, questioned documents , and toxicology.

see also Civil court, forensic evidence; Evidence; Expert witnesses; Federal rules of evidence; Forensic science; Medical examiner; Polygraphs; Professional publications; Toxicology; Voice analysis.