SWGs serve as a common voice for their scientific disciplines. Meetings held at least once a year allow SWG members to come together to discuss issues of concern and reach consensus on documents drafted through out the year. In that  regard, the SWGs create, prepare, and publish standards and guidelines for their constituents in the forensic community. These documents provide crime laboratories a solid basis for operational requirements. Enforcement of the guidelines is left to the appropriate governing agency and each group's internal policies. The documents are published in peer-reviewed scientific journals in the group's discipline. Forensic Science Communications, the Laboratory's online scientific journal, publishes SWG standards and guidelines in virtually every quarterly issue.

SWGMAT is to provide the Guidelines/Best Practices that have application to Fibers, Glass, Paint, Hair, and Tape.   

Process to create:

  • Annual meetings of representatives from State/local/private entities from across the Nation as well as Canada, England, and Germany.
  • Discussions/presentations lead to documents and guidelines.
  • Information shared through the regional associations


  • 02.17.2011
    Annual SWGMAT meeting
    March 21 - 24, 2011
    Fredericksburg, VA
     
  • 03.10.2010
    Annual SWGMAT meeting
    March 22 - 25, 2010
    Fredericksburg, VA
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • The National Institute of Justice (NIJ)  recently posted a summary of all Forensic Science Research and Development Awards from 2004-2010.  The awards are divided by discipline into: Forensic Anthropology; Controlled Substances; Crime Scene Investigation; Fire and Arson; Latent Prints and Other Friction Ridge ; Impression Evidence; Forensic Pathology; Questioned Documents; Forensic Toxicology; and Trace Evidence.  A separate link for DNA Research and Development projects can be viewed at the bottom of the page.  All final technical reports associated with each award, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the project title.  Please monitor the website for new technical reports that will be released as soon as possible.  The site can be accessed via the following link: http://www.nij.gov/topics/forensics/general-forensic-awards.htm

    For information on Human Hair Atlas, click on the link below. http://swgmat.org/subsite_hair.htm