“This re-accreditation demonstrates the on-going commitment and positive strides made in Illinois to provide law enforcement, the judicial system, and the general public with forensic science services that meet the highest of standards,” said Director Trent. “Due to the quality analytical work performed, the ISP Forensic Services Command is continually recognized as a leader in the field of forensic science.”

The FQS-I is the country’s longest established provider of ISO accreditation to forensic science laboratories in the U.S., is one of the accrediting bodies recognized by the National DNA Indexing System (NDIS) Procedures Board, and is the only one that has successfully completed the rigorous scrutiny of operations required by the National Cooperation of Laboratory Accreditation. The standards assessed by the FQS-I were established by the ISO to ensure vital features such as quality, safety, reliability, compatibility, efficiency and effectiveness are met.

In 1982, the ISP was the first forensic science laboratory system to be accredited in the United States and worldwide by the American Society of Crime Lab Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB). Subsequently, re-accreditation has been achieved every five years when the process has been repeated. In addition to these accomplishments, the ISP Crime Scene Services Command became the first stand-alone crime scene investigating unit in the U.S. to receive ISO accreditation in September 2007.