NCJ Number
221369
Date Published
January 2008
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report provides guidelines for the establishment of a quality assurance program in bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) in order to ensure the reliability of all BPA work products.
Abstract
There are 13 guidelines. The first guideline requires that the agency state the goals and objectives of the quality assurance plan for the BPA program. A second guideline requires the agency to have written specifications that define the minimum education, training, and experience required of an individual qualified to perform BPA. The third guideline states that the agency must have written and approved standard operating procedures regarding BPA. The fourth guideline requires the agency to have written procedures for the content and maintenance of BPA case files. The fifth guideline requires the agency to have in place a documented program of ongoing skill assessment of the bloodstain pattern analyst. The sixth guideline indicates the agency should establish written procedures for corrective actions that address such issues as administrative, analytical, interpretive, or skill-assessment errors. The seventh guideline requires the agency to maintain a documented health and safety program; and the eighth guideline requires the agency to have a documented program that ensures the facility is secure from unauthorized access and maintains a condition that minimizes the risk of evidence contamination. Remaining guidelines require the agency to have a documented evidence control system; a documented program for monitoring the maintenance and calibration of equipment and/or instrumentation that affects the accuracy and validity of the BPA; a written requirement that all new techniques be validated prior to their use in BPA applications; a documented program for the periodic review of BPA case files; and the listing and maintenance of all reference material related to the development of the quality assurance program.