Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is pleased to announce that the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Crime Scene Unit (CSU) is accredited by the American Association for
Laboratory Accreditation in the Forensic Inspection field.

 

The agency received its official notification of the ISO 17020-2012 accreditation on Tuesday, February 25, after completing a rigorous process of review covering procedural compliance, assessment, and training that started over four years ago. To accomplish this goal, the SCSO CSU policies and procedures were built, including the writing of quality and procedures manuals and Standard Operating Procedures. The adherence to these processes brought the lab into compliance. Additional training educated members on the accreditation process and how it applies to the CSU. All CSU members received training to ensure an understanding of how and why accreditation applies to the unit’s operations.

 

“It was a long, arduous process, but one that is completely worthwhile,” stated Crime Scene Manager Candace Matthews. “Making certain that we are providing the appropriate and approved forensic practices accepted by the forensic community means we are providing the best services for the citizens in Sarasota County.”

 

In December, a three-day onsite assessment required the SCSO lab to meet 300 areas of conformance and prove that all requirements of 17020 accreditation had been met. After the assessment, two corrections were necessary for accreditation approval. Procedures were completed finalizing the list of conformance standards and successfully completing the requirements.

 

“SCSO is thrilled to be one of only four agencies in Florida that have the 17020 Forensic Inspection accreditation for a Crime Scene Unit,” said Sheriff Hoffman. “It is always our goal to set our standards high, and our Crime Scene Unit has met those standards and accomplished this through dedication and hard work.”