[ISN] FBI's Chicago RCFL Receives Prestigious Accreditation

http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel09/chicago_rcfl120309.htm

Press Release
For Immediate Release
December 3, 2009 

Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691

FBI's Chicago RCFL Receives Prestigious Accreditation

The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory 
Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) recently accredited the Chicago Regional 
Computer Forensics Laboratory (RCFL) in digital and multimedia evidence. 
According to ASCLD/LAB, 51 laboratories in the nation are currently 
accredited in this discipline. With the Chicago RCFL's accomplishment, 
12 out of 14 operational RCFLs have earned accreditation from ASCLD/LAB. 
Additionally, the North Texas RCFL recently earned the organization's 
international accreditation.

The Chicago RCFL opened in 2003 and is part of the FBI.s RCFL Program, a 
national network of 16 digital forensics laboratories and training 
centers devoted entirely to the scientific examination of digital 
evidence in support of criminal investigations. The Chicago RCFL is 
managed by a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement 
organizations, including the FBI through its Chicago Division and FBI 
Headquarters; Chicago Police Department; Cook County Sheriff's Office; 
Joliet Police Department; Lombard Police Department; Palatine Police 
Department; and the University of Illinois at Chicago Police Department. 
RCFL personnel are FBI-certified as computer forensics examiners and 
must strictly adhere to standardized operating procedures and 
institutionalized peer review measures to provide consistent, accurate, 
repeatable, and verifiable results.

The RCFL Program, which is funded and administered by the FBI, supports 
the Bureau's criminal investigative and intelligence-gathering efforts 
by supplying a wide range of sophisticated technological equipment, 
examination tools and capabilities, training, and specialized 
experience.

FBI Assistant Director Marcus C. Thomas said: "Earning accreditation 
from a respected organization such as ASCLD/LAB demonstrates the 
Bureau's commitment to providing exceptional digital forensics services. 
With the Chicago RCFL's accomplishment, we have proven -yet again- how 
serious we take this work. Increasingly, digital evidence is playing a 
pivotal role in criminal investigations, and we are doing our part to 
provide high quality services to strengthen our criminal justice 
system."

According to ASCLD/LAB's website, accreditation is part of a 
laboratory's quality assurance program, which should also include 
proficiency testing, continuing education, customer liaison, and other 
programs to help the laboratory provide more effective overall service. 
The accreditation process is an intensive assessment which evaluates the 
qualifications of all laboratory personnel; the laboratory's operational 
and technical policies, practices, and procedures; and the laboratory's 
quality management system.

For more information about the RCFL Program, visit www.rcfl.gov

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