For more than 20 years, several federal agencies have supported the efforts of various scientific working groups, often referred to as SWGs, for the advancement of forensic standards and techniques. All but one of these working groups (SWGDAM, DNA) have been subsumed into the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science. OSAC works to strengthen the nation's use of forensic science by facilitating the development of technically sound forensic science standards and by promoting the adoption of those standards by the forensic science community.
Following is a list of forensic science disciplines with their corresponding OSAC link and a legacy SWG link when available.
- DNA and forensic biology
- Forensic crime scene analysis
- Forensic anthropology and forensic odontology
- Bloodstain pattern analysis
- Controlled substances
- Fire debris analysis and arson scene investigations
- Firearms and toolmark identification
- Latent print
- Shoeprint/tire tread examination
- Questioned documents
- Trace evidence
- Forensic toxicology
- Medicolegal death investigations, including forensic pathology